News

Seth proves superior again as Mildred asserts her dominance

1st Feb 2020

Outstanding 3YO Super Seth and brilliant 2YO Mildred announced themselves as autumn power players with dominant first-up wins at Caulfield today.

The Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth resumed with an arrogant victory in the G3 Manfred Stakes while Mildred made it three wins from four starts when successful in the G3 Chairman’s Stakes.

Super Seth (Dundeel x Salutations) is a $280,000 Easter Yearling Sale buy by Dean Hawthorne for a syndicate that includes Pinecliff Racing’s Jonathan Munz and a number of other partners, from Arrowfield’s draft.

Today’s win was his fifth from just eight starts and took his earnings to over $1.5m.

Only weeks after his defining Caulfield Guineas win, New Zealand’s Waikato Stud purchased a majority share in Super Seth (pictured) and will stand him as a stallion once his racing days are over.

Mark Chittick of Waikato Stud – who will offer two stunning colts at this year’s Easter Yearling Sale – conceded he was “bloody nervous’’ ahead of today’s race.

“But when Mark [Zahra] cruised past the leader at the 100m mark, it was a great feeling of relief, hugely satisfying,’’ Chittick said.

“When you become involved in a horse under these circumstances, buying into them as a stallion proposition, I definitely felt a lot of added pressure ahead of today’s race. There’s no hiding, it’s a lot of money.

“But he’s such a quality colt, he really is. I can’t wait to see him keep racing and hopefully add some more Group 1s to his name hopefully before coming here to Waikato for his stallion days.’’

Super Seth is bred by Arrowfield Pastoral and Planette Thoroughbreds.

“Super Seth is super! That was a great return for him and caps a good day for Dundeel after his daughter She’s Ideel won impressively at Randwick,’’ Arrowfield’s John Messara said.

“We’re proud of Super Seth as one of our 12 Group 1-winning Inglis Easter graduates since 2013 and we look forward to presenting six Dundeel yearlings in our Classic draft and eight at this year’s Inglis Easter Sale.”

Super Seth is one of five Inglis G1-winning 3YOs this season and one of 28 individual Inglis Stakes-winning 3YOs of the season so far.

For the 2YO Mildred, today’s Chairman’s Stakes win was further vindication for vendor Verna Metcalfe of Middlebrook Valley Lodge and owner Neville Begg.

Just before Mildred (Hinchinbrook x Tempest Tost) made her way into the Riverside sales ring at last year’s Classic Sale, Hall of Fame trainer and respected breeder and buyer Begg approached Metcalfe.

“He told me he wanted to buy the filly but wanted to know what I thought of her,’’ Metcalfe said.

“I told him plain and simply that she’s a racehorse. She’s not overly big but she will 100% be a runner.’’

Begg agreed with Metcalfe and went on to purchase the filly for $45,000.

Today Mildred won her third career race – second at Stakes level – and will be set for G1 races in coming weeks.

“I wrote one thing in my catalogue. 2YO,’’ Begg recalled of when he saw Mildred at last year’s Classic Sale.

“I knew what I was buying but I honestly thought I got her very cheap at $45,000.

“She’s come out and won the first 2YO race of the season, her only defeat she only got beat a length in the Inglis Banner at The Valley when she was left in front too far out and she’s proving herself to be a running 2YO – just as we had predicted at the sales.’’

Middlebrook will offer a draft of 14 yearlings at this year’s Classic Yearling Sale, which begins at Riverside next Sunday (February 9) at 10am and runs for three days.

Inspections for the 808 yearlings catalogued begin on Tuesday.

To view the parade schedule, CLICK HERE.

To view the Classic catalogue, CLICK HERE.

In today’s feature at Randwick, the G2 Expressway Stakes, talented 3YO Standout (Exceed And Excel) made it four wins from five starts with a dominant victory over dual G1 winner Alizee.

Standout’s full brother is lot 342 at the Easter Yearling Sale at Riverside on April 7 and 8, being offered by Corumbene Stud.

To view the Easter catalogue, CLICK HERE.

Meanwhile at Canterbury on Friday night Spokesman gave his sire Press Statement his first winner when victorious in the 2YO Handicap.

Spokesman is a $270,000 buy for Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock from Fairview Park’s 2019 Classic Sale draft.

There are 11 progeny of Press Statement in this year’s Classic Yearling Sale.