Another Derby Winner for Sebring?

Golden Slipper winner Sebring already has a Derby winner on his resume with star colt Criterion taking out the $2million ATC Australian Derby and now he looks to have a two top chances in the Group I SA Derby at Morphettville this Saturday.

A close and fast finishing third in the Group I SAJC Australasian Oaks last Saturday over 2000 metres, the Mick Kent trained filly Scratchy Bottom has accepted for the Derby.

Drawn in gate one, she will be the only filly in the field and if she can replicate her finishing burst from last Saturday that saw her surge home from near last to fail by a short head and a head behind May’s Dream, Scratchy Bottom will be hard to beat.

Raced by Rick Jamieson of Gilgai Farm, Scratchy Bottom has the pedigree to suggest an Oaks journey could be her forte as her dam Silk Veil, is a Group II placed sister to New Zealand Oaks place-getter Danasia, the dam of Group I STC Rosehill Guineas winner Zabrasive.

Sebring’s other runner Bring Something will have no issues with the trip having scored a dominant last start win in the Listed VRC Galilee Final at Flemington over 2400 metres.

Bring Something is the first winner for Metellus, an unraced daughter of AJC Australian Derby winner Naturalism from Bolt of Lightning, a daughter of the great Denise’s Joy, who won a VRC Oaks, QTC Oaks and WA Derby for good measure..

It’s a legendary family packed with Group I stars and has worked well with Sebring’s sire More Than Ready (USA) previously to produce champion mare More Joyous.

For a sire whose pedigree on face value appeared all about speed – his first two dams are by Golden Slipper winners Flying Spur and Luskin Star – Sebring has proven a revelation this season in being able to produce not only the precocious juveniles expected, but also the Classic style three year-olds capable of winning the big prizemoney races.

Sebring is already leading the Australian Second Season Sires division and may well stretch his margin further this weekend.