Star Winner for Sebring

Star Thoroughbreds and Chris Waller combined to produce their first juvenile winner of the season at Hawkesbury on Tuesday with Sebring filly Pioneering, a $90,000 Magic Millions purchase from the draft of Newgate Farm.

The dashing chestnut made full use of barrier one under Jim Cassidy, tracking the rail back in the field before surging to the front in the straight.

She accelerated sharply over the final furlong to run past hot favourite Silver Spun and win the 1000 metre maiden by a length.

Like all the Waller prepared two year-olds, Pioneering has been allowed to find her path in her own time and has been entered for the $500,000 Group III ATC Percy Sykes Stakes at The Championships meeting on April 11.

A filly with a big international pedigree, Pioneering is the second winner for Soothe (USA), a half-sister to US Group II winner Conserve and grand-daughter of celebrated matriarch Fanfreluche, the ancestress of champion sires Flying Spur and Encosta de Lago.

Golden Slipper winner and now leading sire Sebring has long been the pin-up boy for Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds and it is most fitting that he should provide their first juvenile winner for champion trainer Chris Waller.