Second Group One Winner for Sebring

Our red hot sire Sebring added a second Group I winner to his tally at Rosehill on Saturday when top class colt Criterion scored a well-deserved and dominant victory in the ATC Rosehill Guineas over 2000 metres.

A brilliant winner of the Group II ATC Todman Stakes at two, Criterion has been tested over the longer journeys as a three year-old by his trainer David Payne.

Second in the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes and fourth in the Group I VRC Victoria Derby last preparation during the spring, Criterion was second in the Group I VRC Australian Guineas at the start of the month and finally cracked it for a win at the elite level in the Rosehill Guineas.

Ridden patiently by Hugh Bowman, Criterion pounced on the leaders down the running and quickly raced away to win by more than three lengths over a Widden Stud graduate in Thunder Fantasy, a son of Lucky Owners.

“He’s only just maturing now,” said David Payne.

“You have to leave him alone in the run and not bustle him.

“He’ll be winning the Derby hopefully. From day one we always thought he would be winning at 2000 metres plus.”

Winning rider Hugh Bowman shares Payne’s confidence regarding the Group I ATC Australian Derby in two weeks time.

“This horse has raced at the top grade for his whole career. I rode him in the Golden Slipper last year (he ran sixth),” said Bowman.

“He’ll go on to the Derby and on this performance would be favourite and rightfully so.”

Foaled in New Zealand, Criterion is a homebred for Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock and has won four races and placed four times from 15 starts earning $1 million in prizemoney.

The second Group I winner for Sebring following on from Group I ATC Randwick Guineas winner Dissident, Criterion is a half-brother to Group II winner Varenna Miss and stakes-winner Silently being one of six winners from six foals to race from Group III winning Bite the Bullet (USA) mare Mica’s Pride.

Criterion brought up the second leg of a winning stakes double for Sebring, who scored earlier in the day with brilliant filly Bring Me The Maid, who earned a crack at the Golden Slipper with a fast finishing win in the Group II ATC Magic Night Stakes.

Sebring has taken over as the Leading Australian Second Season Sire by earnings and winners and has 21 entries for the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.