Sesar (AUS) 2 c Sebring – Sarthemare by Street Cry
The Steven O’Dea-trained colt Sesar (Sebring) followed up on his second in a two-year-old race over 1200 metres at the Sunshine Coast on 14 April to score his first win in three starts, doing so at stakes level in the Ken Russell Memorial Classic (Gr 3, 1200m).
He settled midfield on the rails in the 13-horse field under jockey Brad Pengelly, tracking a quick pace before responding to riding to improve nicely along the inside rail on turning for home.
He hit the front at the 200 metres and then fought back gamely when challenged to score quite impressively and in quick time of 1:08.67, beating Boomsara (Spirit Of Boom) by three quarters of a length.
Sesar is one of three named foals out of the Listed-winning mare Sarthemare (Street Cry), making him a half-brother to the multiple race-winning pair Central Station (Manhattan Rain) and Doubt Defying (Not A Single Doubt).
His winning second dam City Liffey (Citidancer) has produced six winners from seven foals to race, headed by Sarthemare, while his third dam River Liffey (Irish River) is a half-sister to the stakes-placed trio Bold Vantage (Bold Bidder), Magic Pepper (Magesterial) and Peppy Raja (Raja Baba).
His US-bred fourth dam Fresh Pepper (B Major) was Grade Three-placed in America, while this is also the family of Grade Two winners Songster (Songandaprayer) and Mopotism (Uncle Mo).
In winning the Ken Russell Memorial Classic, Sesar became the 41st stakes winner for Widden Stud stallion Sebring (More Than Ready), who will stand for a fee of $66,000 (inc GST) and will be joined on the Widden roster by his son Supido this year.