Seth looking super
The two-year-olds took centre stage of Saturday’s New Zealand racing and the Listed race at Te Rapa resulted in Waikato Stud’s Super Seth (Dundeel) siring Super Photon, his first New Zealand black-type winner.
Linebacker (Super Seth), who landed the TL Baillieu Handicap (Gr 3, 1400m) on March 30th and ran second in the Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) three weeks later, can claim the honour of being his first overall.
Super Seth’s barnmate Ardrossan (Redoute’s Choice) provided the quinella in the Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (Listed, 1400m) while the stud was also responsible for breeding the winner from their O’Reilly (Last Tycoon) mare Chandelier.
For Super Seth, this second stakes victory underlines a promising start to a much vaunted potential career as Waikato Stud have given the young stallion every possible opportunity to succeed, not only regarding the quality of mares but also in numbers. At NZB Karaka Book 1 in 2023 he was represented by more than 40 lots and only slightly fewer in 2024.
That both stakes winners have found their form in the autumn should not be all that surprising as sire Super Seth won on debut in late March and grandsire Dundeel (High Chaparral) won on debut in early April. Both Super Seth and Dundeel went to new heights at three and we never had the opportunity to see how good Super Seth might have been if not for the world-wide pandemic which cut short his racing career. We might expect Linebacker and Super Photon to similarly improve when we see them out next spring.
From the 1400 metres Super Photon began quickly with Michael McNab finding the desired one-one by the time they reached the end of the back straight. They moved out three deep rounding into the home straight and lodged their challenge before the 300 metre mark. His rails rival Renovations (Ardrossan) was tough until the 150 metres but he went to the line with his ears pricked, scoring with something in reserve to remain unbeaten in two starts.
As for the quality of Super Seth’s first book of mares, Super Photon’s dam Chandelier could easily have returned to Savabeel (Zabeel) in late November of 2020. By that time her 2017 foal Mo’unga (Savabeel) had won his first three races including the Dulcify Stakes (Listed, 1500m).
Instead, the stud chose Super Seth and Super Photon was foaled in late October of 2021. Chandelier did return to Savabeel but missed the following year and last spring foaled a Savabeel filly. Waikato stud has options that other studs might dream about.
In the meantime, Mo’unga would earn $3.8 million, a sound return on the $325,000 outlaid for him at the 2019 NZB Karaka Yearling Sales. Chandelier’s as yet unraced 2020 colt foal would sell for $1 million and in 2023 Super Photon would fetch $380,000, both sold at Karaka.
After Mo’unga’s spring as a three-year-old he was transferred from Chris Waller’s stable to the care of Annabel Neasham. His second start from new quarters in the autumn resulted in a slashing second in the Randwick Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) followed by a tough, straight-long run to land the Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m).
As an indication of Mo’unga’s class, the Randwick Guineas was the first of 16 consecutive starts in Group 1 races. In the spring of his four-year-old career he added a second Group 1 when impressive in the Winx Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m). Surprisingly, that was to be his final win yet he continued to compete at the highest level racking up five Group 1 seconds and four Group 1 thirds at four and five.
His competition included Anamoe (Street Boss), Verry Elleegant (Zed), Alligator Blood (All Too Hard), Zaaki (Leroidesanimaux), Cascadian (New Approach) and I’m Thunderstruck (Shocking). Twice he raced in the WS Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) for a fourth behind Sir Dragonet (Camelot) and a fifth behind Anamoe.
Chandelier herself was Group 3-placed and is a sister to Irlanda (O’Reilly), a triple stakes winner whose six wins included the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m). Chandelier is a granddaughter of Group 3-winner Seraphic (Imposing), the granddam also of Auckland Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) winner Chenille (Pentire). Seraphic’s dam Torquay (Wharf) won the New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m).
Mo’unga has recently been retired to stud and will join Savabeel’s son Cool Aza Beel and Xtravagant (Pentire) at Newhaven Park in New South Wales.
All sorts
Westbury Stud’s Redwood (High Chaparral) can throw all sorts. A number of his stakes winners prefer distances beyond 1600 metres but Antino is one that is more comfortable up to 1600 metres and his first rate win over 1200 metres in Eagle Farm’s Victory Stakes (Gr 2) makes him the third of Redwood’s 14 stakes winners to succeed in a 1200 metre black-type race.
Romancer was the first, in the Straight Six (Listed, 1200m) at Flemington, when he was a seven-year-old. Solidify was successful in last year’s Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (Listed, 1200m) which on Saturday at Te Rapa was increased to 1400 metres.
Antino was a $27,000 purchase from John Malcolm’s Cheltenham Stables at the 2020 NZB Ready to Run Sale. He made quite an impression early in his career although he didn’t make an appearance until March of 2023 and that was at Caloundra where he won on debut, his only start at three.
At four he won seven of his eight starts (six in Brisbane) tasting defeat just once, wrapping up the season with an easy win in the Wayne Wilson Plate (Listed, 1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Last spring, now five, his trainer Tony Gollan sent him to Melbourne where he raced four times for a win in the Sandown Stakes (Gr 3, 1500m) and seconds in the Toorak Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) and the Crystal Mile (Gr 2, 1600m) on Cox Plate day. At Rosehill in November for the rich Five Diamonds (1800m) he never got clear running, pulled up lame and was coughing.
Freshened, he returned on Saturday and is clearly back to his best, judging by this latest performance in the Group 2 sprint yet he blew the start and sat a clear last at the 800-metre mark. Vlad Duric pushed him closer rounding into the straight but when they straightened he was still last. Duric switched to the inner and Antino gained quickly, drew alongside the leader at the 100 metres then sprinted clear for a big win.
“I love this horse”
Trainer Gollan was in awe of the performance. “I said to Vlad, this horse can sustain a run longer than any horse I’ve ever trained. I knew once they got inside the final furlong they were never going to beat him. When he pins his ears back and he has a go, he’s a different beast.” Gollan continued: “It means a lot this win, I love this horse. He just does things that other horses can’t. He is a different animal.”
His record stands at ten wins and three placings in 15 starts, earning $904,415 and is now a firm favourite for the Stradbroke Handicap (Gr 1, 1400m).
Antino’s dam, Mahamaya (Bahhare) was sold at the 2018 NZB May broodmare sale for $3,000. The mare was carrying Antino. Since foaling him her breeding record has been patchy and she did not produce another foal until 2023, a filly by Tarzino (Tavistock). Last spring she was covered by Satono Aladdin (Deep Impact) and exported to Australia this past February.
Unraced Mahamaya is a sister to two Group 1 performers. Hurrah (Bahhare) won the Captain Cook Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Trentham. Best Gift (Bahhare), a Listed winner in Hong Kong also recorded two Group 1-placings there.
Their dam, Shock Attack (Inviting), won at Listed level and their granddam Octane (Reindeer) is a half-sister to Avondale Gold Cup (Gr 1, 2200m) and New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) winner, Trocane (Moss Trooper).
Shock Attack’s granddam is Cane (Lionhearted), a winning half-sister to Mary Mead (Wilkes) whose daughter Richebourg (Vice Regal) was purchased by the Vela brothers at Trentham for $65,000, the start of the Pencarrow empire.
Richebourg produced Hong Kong International Cup (Gr 3, 1800m) winner Romanee Conti (Sir Tristram), herself the dam of Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) heroine, Ethereal (Rhythm), a four-time Group 1 winner.
Romanee Conti’s three-quarter sister, Grand Echezeaux (Zabeel), a Group 1-winner of the Australasian Oaks (2000m), has had an even larger influence on the breeding industry, being the dam of top class racehorse and highly successful sire, Darci Brahma (Danehill).
Cane’s granddam is the Royal Ascot King’s Stand Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) winner, Easter Bride (Emir d’Iran), the younger half-sister to twice New Zealand Broodmare of the Year and New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Sunbride (Tai-Yang), the mare that put Te Parae Stud on the map.
More in store
At Morphettville, two placed performances by a couple of New Zealand-breds are worthy of mention, one featuring another by Redwood, namely Crimson Vine who was second in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Gr 3, 2500m), formerly the Port Adelaide Cup.
Crimson Vine gives owners of maidens some hope as she took nine races to break hers this past January at Murray Bridge. She added back-to-back wins at Morphettville before Saturday’s Group 3 second.
She was purchased at the Magic Millions 2021 National Yearling Sale for $10,000 and is from a half-sister to Listed winner and Group 1-placed Latin News (Hussonet) while her third dam is a sister to Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Marauding (Sir Tristram).
Inglewood Stud’s War Decree (War Front) has a good sort in Warmonger who flashed home for second in the South Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2500m). A Flemington Listed winner last Melbourne Cup day, he gets back but finishes strongly and was the only runner taking ground off winner Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun) who had a dream run. Warmonger was back and widest when they lined up for the run home.
On that run he would be a major chance in the Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2400m). A $165,000 purchase at the 2022 NZB Ready to Run Sale, Warmonger is from a Savabeel (Zabeel) half-sister to dual Flemington Listed winner Merion (O’Reilly), his granddam was a Listed winner and his third dam is a sister to four-times Group 1 winner Alibhai (Noble Bijou).
NZ connection
Last stride winner of English 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) at Newmarket on Sunday, Elmalka (Kingman) is a direct descendant of New Zealand Horse of the Year La Mer (Copenhagen II). Among La Mer’s 24 wins (22 stakes) were the Air New Zealand Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) as well as the New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) and Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (Gr 1).
Elmalka traces to La Mer via her 1986 foal Lady Of The Sea (Mill Reef), dam of Royal Ascot Ribblesdale Stakes (Gr 2, 1m4f) winner Bahr (Generous), Elmalka’s granddam. Bahr’s 2008 foal Nahrain (Selkirk), dam of Elmalka, was a dual top-flight winner of the Prix de l’Opera (Gr 1, 2000m) at Longchamp and Belmont Park’s Flower Bowl Stakes (Gr 1, 1m2f).
Nahrain is now in rare company having produced two Group 1 winners. Her 2014 foal Benbatl (Dubawi), who will shuttle to Woodside Park in 2024, won top-flight races in three countries including the Caulfield Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) making Elmaka part of an outstanding family. The Guineas was her third start and second win. There is Oaks distance form in her close relatives so The Oaks (Gr 1, 1m4f) next month should be within her scope.
Thanks to agent Robt Dawe for bringing Elmalka to Kiwi Chronicles’ attention.