News

Black Caviar set for date with Sebring

24th Sep 2014

Racing.com - Brad Bishop - Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Golden Slipper winner Sebring has been selected as the next mate for legendary mare Black Caviar.

The Hall of Fame mare’s owners on Tuesday announced that Black Caviar would be heading to the boom stallion.

Part-owner Gary Wilkie said, as with last year when Exceed And Excel was chosen as Black Caviar’s maiden mating, a great deal of study went into choosing the stallion with opinions sought from many parties, including Black Caviar’s trainer Peter Moody.

“The owners have given the selection of stallion for Black Caviar’s second mating much consideration and sought expert opinion and have today decided that Sebring is our choice for this breeding season,” Wilkie said.

“Being a son of More Than Ready, Sebring has both confirmation and pedigree on his side and we believe that he will be an excellent match for Black Caviar.

“He was a star on the track winning the Golden Slipper and has shown in his first few seasons at stud that he can produce high-quality foals of either sex that can deliver on the racetrack.

“We paid particular attention to the advice of Peter Moody who has had great success with the progeny of Sebring through Dissident, who is already a three-time Group 1 winner, and Bring Me The Maid, who was placed in this year’s Golden Slipper.”

Black Caviar is preparing for her second breeding season, having given birth to a filly by Exceed And Excel on 12 September.

Like Exceed And Excel, Sebring was a star performer over sprint distances on the racetrack and won the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) after his Golden Slipper success.

He has successfully turned his talents to the breeding barn and has importantly proven himself as a producer of horses capable of performing at the top level beyond distances that he himself exceeded on the track.

His son Criterion won this year’s ATC Australian Derby (2400m), having earlier won the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m), while Dissident is favourite for this year’s Cox Plate after Group 1 wins in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) and Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) to start the season.

Antony Thompson from Widden Stud, where Sebring stands for $60,500, said it was a huge honour for the stallion who on Tuesday celebrated his ninth birthday.

“What a great birthday present for Sebring,” Thompson said. “He is one of most exciting young stallions in Australia and we’re honoured that he’s been chosen for Australia’s greatest mare, Black Caviar.

“What Sebring has achieved with just two crops to race is exceptional and we’re confident that his mating with Black Caviar will produce an outstanding foal with the potential for great success on the track.