First Stakes Winner for Astern as Seradess Blows Them Away in Cinderella Stakes

Mark Smith - Monday Mar 8

Sent off at $51 when making a winning debut at Bendigo, the Mark Kavanagh-trained Seradess came from last to blow away the opposition in Monday’s Listed Cinderella Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville to honour Darley Stud’s Astern with his first stakes-winner.

What a performance Seradess (Magic Magic Millions twitter)

Seradess had to share first prize on debut, but she made no mistake here.

Given plenty of time to find her feet by Jamie Kah, Seradess exploded down the centre of the track to win by a widening five and a quarter lengths from the Air Force Blue (USA) filly Roxy Blue with two and a quarter lengths back to the Winning Rupert filly Bolsonaro in third.

It was a stakes trifecta for first season sire stallions.

Kavanagh said he might resist the temptation to tackle the autumn features for the two-year-olds with the unbeaten daughter of Astern.

“This is a nice filly. That qualifies her for some nice races in the spring,” Kavanagh said.

“You don’t get good three-year-olds if you go to the well too often at two.”

It was a happy homecoming for the all-conquering Jamie Kah.

“That was super. It’s good to be back,” Kah said.

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“This filly is really smart. She has taken a lot of improvement out of her first win. They will be setting bigger goals for her now.

“Mark said to ride her where she is comfortable. I was happy to let the speed go and I knew she had a good turn of foot from her first start.

“She is a very classy filly, very relaxed with a great turn of foot.”

Astern becomes the fifth first crop stallion to sire a stakes-winner

Purchased by her trainer for $50,000 out of the Mill Park Stud draft at the 2020 Adelaide Yearling Sale, Seradess is the first winner from three to race out of the accomplished racemare Obsidian Dragon.

A stakes-placed daughter of Hidden Dragon, Obsidian Dragon won nine and placed in eight of her 27 starts while banking $419,600.

A half-sister to two-time Listed stakes-winner Danedina (Danehill Dancer), Obsidian Dragon has a colt foal by Nicconi and was covered last spring by Magna Grecia (IRE).

Seradess became the first winner for Astern when she dead-heated with the Frosted filly Cloudy at Bendigo on February 23.

A Group 1 winning son of Medaglia d’Oo (USA), Astern covered 72 mares at Darley last spring at a fee of $22,000.

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Race Result - Tab Cinderella Stakes LR 1050m

Morphettville Track: Good(4) Time: 1:00.56
1
Seradess
- 2f Astern (AUS) x Obsidian Dragon (AUS) (Hidden Dragon (AUS))
Tnr: M A Kavanagh Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
2
5.3
Roxy Blue
- 2f Air Force Blue (USA) x Rock Out (AUS) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: Travis Doudle Rdr: K Mc Evoy 56
3
7.6
Bolsonaro
- 2f Winning Rupert (AUS) x Hashmal (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: D Clarken & O Macgillivray Rdr: Anna Jordsjo 56
4
8.3
Sirianni
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Spining Arrow (IRE) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: Lloyd Kennewell Rdr: J Holder 56
5
8.6
Gloved
- 2f Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Perfect Fit (NZ) (Elusive City (USA))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: B Vorster 56
6
9.1
Starsongari
- 2f Star Turn (AUS) x Msongari (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Bieg Rdr: Jake Toeroek 56
7
15.1
Zombie Witness
- 2f Star Witness (AUS) x Zombie Dancer (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Travis Doudle Rdr: M Aitken 56
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