Sebring Mare Wins G3 Wenona Girl

Our much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring added a new stakes-winner to his tally on Saturday when progressive mare Jal Lei won the Group III ATC Wenona Girl Stakes (1200m) in dramatic circumstances.

Zac Lloyd was first past the post on another Sebrinbg mare in Jump The Broom, but she ran out badly in the closing stages, putting the third across-the-line Tycoon Evie down on her nose.

A protest by Zac Purton on Tycoon Evie against Zac Lloyd was upheld, and second across the line, Jal Lei was awarded the race, with Tycoon Evie second and Jump The Broom relegated to third.

Winning trainer John O’Shea was counting his blessings.

“We’ll take a win in a stakes race for a mare any day. It’s great for owner David Paradise,” O’Shea said.

“She loves the six [furlongs] here, and Tom came up with the good idea of only trialling her once going into the race. I think it worked a treat.”

A $180,000 purchase for Vinery Stud from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Jal Lei is the best of three winners from as many to race for the talented Exceed And Excel mare Lesley’s Choice.

She has the overall record of four wins and four placings from 13 starts with prizemoney topping $270,000.

She becomes the 82nd stakes-winner for Sebring, whose final crop of foals are now three year-olds.