Explosive Spring Return for Dissident

A Group I winner in the autumn when successful in the ATC Randwick Guineas, the Peter Moody trained Sebring four year-old Dissident kicked off his spring campaign with an explosive victory in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

Tackling weight-for-age company over 1400 metres, Dissident made it look all too easy when he travelled strongly for Ben Melham just off the speed and then stormed clear to beat quality mare Sweet Idea by a couple of lengths.

“He’s trained on terrific as a four year-old and has furnished nicely,” said Moody.

“He did really well when spelling in Queensland during the winter and has been in Sydney until he came back here last week.

“He’s a high class colt and had conditions to suit.

“The world is his oyster. That was a top class field and he put them to the sword.

“He’s an outstanding looking individual and deserves his place in any top class wight-for-age event in the country.”

Dissident was a $210,000 Magic Millions purchase for his trainer from the Widden Stud draft and runs for a big syndicate of very happy owners including Widden Stud’s Marketing and Nominations Manager Ryan McEvoy.

After Dissident was purchased as a yearling, Moody had trouble finding owners for the colt when a couple of people, who had committed to him, pulled out.

Ryan McEvoy had always liked him so got together a group of his mates to take shares in the horse and the rest is history.

Dissident has won four races and placed five times from 15 starts earning $1,158,200 in prizemoney.

Bred by Widden Stud and partners, Dissident is the second foal and first stakes-winner for stakes-placed Anabaa (USA) mare Diana’s Secret, who comes from the family of Palace Gossip, Mountebank and Vietnam.

Diana’s Secret has a two year-old filly by Northern Meteor that made $400,000 at Inglis Easter earlier this year and was one of 222 mares covered last year by Sebring.

Dissident is a Widden Stud product through and through as his dam Diana’s Secret was also bred by Widden Stud in partnership.

By the stud’s former highly successful shuttle sire Anabaa (USA), Diana’s Secret was consigned to the 2006 Magic Millions where she was sold for $330,000 to renowned international bloodstock agent Adrian Niccoll of BBA Ireland and Julian Blaxland of Blue Sky Thoroughbreds.

A gorgeous filly, Diana’s Secret was the most expensive yearling by Anabaa sold at Magic Millions that year and went on to win two races and earned Black Type when second in the Listed SAJC Hill Smith Stakes for David Hayes.

“She was a really lovely type, so we decided to keep a small share in her to race and then when she retired to stud we bought some more of her and brought her back here,” recalled Antony Thompson of Widden Stud.

“It’s rare that we would keep a filly that we’ve bred, so it’s a real thrill for Dissident to come along and achieve what he has.”

Sebring was the first stallion filled this year at Widden and stands at a fee of $60,500.