Sebring 2YO a Rising Star in HK

Lauded as the likely next Australian bred super sprinter in Hong Kong, Classique Legend’s little half-brother Aethero kept his unbeaten record intact at Sha Tin on Monday when scoring a scintillating victory.

The two year-old Sebring gelding made all the running in the 1200 metre class three handicap and was eased down to the line by Zac Purton to win by a length and three-quarters in a brisk 1:08.32, which was a class record.

The Group I Longines Hong Kong Sprint in December is the long term goal for Aethero (image courtesy HKJC) , who has now won three from three.

“He looks decent, doesn’t he? He did the job today in the fashion that I thought he would,” Moore said.

“Three runs next season to get him into the 100-range before we get to the Hong Kong Sprint, that would be the ultimate target. I’m getting ahead of myself a bit but I believe he’s definitely the sort of horse that could be the likely type to make it.”

Moore noted that his charge is “not the finished product” but was firm in his conviction that he has what it takes to progress physically and mentally in time for the December showpiece.

“With the boys who will be on him of a morning and the ‘TLC’ and so forth, by the time he gets to December he’ll be focused, he’ll be the finished product – he’s just got to convert the goal,” he said.

“He has the makings of one of Hong Kong’s top sprinters, the way he went there. I know he didn’t beat very much but he’s only a two-year-old, he’s in open company so to do it as comfortably as that is really pleasing.”

A $575,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Tyreel Stud draft for George Moore Bloodstock, Aethero is a half-brother to Group II winner and Everest contender Classique Legend being the third winner from three foals to race from Pinocchio, a winning full sister to champion miler Racing to Win.

The late Sebring has already sired a Group I winning sprinter in Hong Kong in Lucky Bubbles and in Aethero may well have another.