Exciting Stakes Double for Sebring
Widden Stud’s much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring posted a stakes double on Saturday with Daisies winning the Group III MRC Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield quickly followed by Fangirl, who captured the Listed ATC Reginald Allen Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
There was a big shake-up in the betting for the Group I VRC Oaks following the dominant performance of promising Sebring filly Daisies.
Given a positive ride by Damian Lane, Daises took up a forward position after looking likely to caught wide when the pace slackened.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained filly put to bed any doubts concerning her staying ability when drawing clear to defeat the Deep Impact filly Glint Of Hope by one and three-quarter lengths with another daughter of Sebring, Biscayne Bay, a further one and a quarter lengths back in third.
It was the first win at start four for Daisies who had impressed when sixth behind Elusive Express in the Group II Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington.
Price said that Daisies will likely not start again before the Oaks.
“She is a beautiful big staying filly. I think there is a bit of Zabeel in there and a mix of pedigree, but she is a beautifully big, clean-winded staying filly and I think she’ll go into the Oaks from here,” said Mick Price.
“We always wanted to go to 2000 metres which is why we didn’t run her in the Thousand Guineas.
“I didn’t want to be out the back running home with a promising run all the time. I suppose into the Oaks from here.”
A $250,000 purchase by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Widden Stud draft at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Daisies was bred by Widden stud in partnership and is a sister to stakes-placed Motown Lil.
Her dam Tigress Lily, a talented daughter of Snitzel, is out of the Zabeel mare Empress Lily who placed in the VRC Oaks, VRC Edward Manifold Stakes and Kewney Stakes.
A half-sister to Group 1 SAJC Schweppes Oaks runner-up Estee, Tigress Lily is a daughter of New Zealand Horse of the Year and New Zealand Oaks winner Tycoon Lil.
John O’Shea Racing purchased a Zoustar filly out of Tigress Lily for $200,000 from the Widden Stud draft at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
A homebred for the Ingham family prepared by Chris Waller, Fangirl carries the famed cerise colours and showed her potential with a five length maiden win at Goulburn on September 25 at her third race start.
Facing a significant step up in class for the Listed ATC Reginald Allen, Fangirl was cluttered up back in the field for James McDonald and when angled into clear running between runners she let down with a sensational turn of foot to scoot clear before holding off a challenge from stablemate Roots to win by half a length.
She emulated the success of her mother Little Surfer Girl, who won the same race in 2009 for the Ingham family and was also trained by Chris Waller.
“She’s a beautiful filly and Chris found a nice race for her here,” said McDonald.
“I know he has big targets for her next preparation in the autumn.”
Fangirl has won two of four starts earning $123,000 and is the best of four winners from Little Surfer Girl, who was bought by the Ingham family for $1.5million at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
By champion sire Encosta de Lago from Champion 3YO Filly and dual Group I winner Special Harmony, Little Surfer Girl won three stakes races for the Ingham’s during her career and earned over $400,000 in prizemoney.
Daisies and Fangirl are the 72nd and 73rd stakes-winners for Sebring, whose last crop of foals are two year-olds this season.
