Exciting New Stakes-Winner for Sebring

The first stakes race for new season three year-olds was run at Randwick on Saturday with victory in the Listed ATC The Rosebud going to spring up and comer Sebring Sun.

The Gary Portelli trained colt contested some of the better juvenile races last season and resumed from a spell with a dominant midweek win last month under a big weight.

Facing tougher opposition this time around, he rose to the challenge, finding the line strongly for Brenton Avdulla to surge clear and win the 1200 metre dash by a length.

Sebring Sun is among the first acceptors for the $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose on September 12, so connections will be thrilled to see him reel off successive wins to push him up the prizemoney order of entry and into the Top 30.

The Group III ATC Up And Coming Stakes over 1300 metres at Randwick in a fortnight’s time is the next goal for Sebring Sun and a good showing there may secure his place in Sydney’s first Group I race of the season.

“He’s got to step up again I suppose in a fortnight to the Up And Coming, but I can’t see why he won’t and the 1300 metres shouldn’t be a problem,” Portelli said.

Bred by Stephen Kirkham, Sebring Sun has two wins and two placings from six starts with prizemoney topping $124,000.

A $100,000 Magic Millions purchase for Elite Thoroughbreds from the draft of Edinglassie Stud, he is the first winner for Soleil Royale, a half-sister by French Deputy (USA) to globe-trotting Aussie bred Group I winner War Artist.

Sebring Sun is the 14th stakes-winner for Sebring, who stands at a fee of $66,000 and covered 192 mares last year including Black Caviar.