After racing with little luck, the stars aligned for the 4-year-old Shalaa (IRE) gelding Semillion in Saturday’s $250,000 Listed De Bortoli Wines Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Newcastle.
Ridden by Zac Lloyd for Michael Wayne and John Hawkes, Semillion won his first race in two years, with a front running display to defeat the 4-year-old Sebring mare Tashi by a length with the 6-year-old Zosustar gelding Astero in third.
It was his first win since the Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes in April 2022.
The winner of the $400,000 Inglis Banner at Moonee Vally on debut, Semillion advances his record to three wins, three seconds, and two thirds from 18 starts with earnings of $741,050.
“The plan was to go forward and it was a matter of what wanted to take him on,” Michael Hawes said.
“When they transferred this race to Newcastle, it was probably a great thing for racing, but Gosford would have suited this bloke better with a shorter straight.
“With nothing taking him on, he jumped, relaxed and got into a beautiful rhythm. Zac let him go through his gears and, with a lightweight, won well.
“He was flying in Melbourne. He should have won last start but drew a bad barrier and was pipped on the post.
“In this day and age, barriers win races. He drew well today, and it was a deserving win for him.
“He is a lightly raced son of Shalaa and has won over $600,000, and the ownership group have been great.”
Bred by Dorrington Farm’s Robert Crabtree, Semillion was purchased by International Thoroughbred Solutions (FBAA) for $300,000 out of the Blue Gum Farm draft at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
He is the best of two winners from as many to race out of the Bel Esprit mare Sistonic, a sister to stakes-winner Iconic and a three-quarter sister to the immortal Black Caviar and to the dam of Caulfield Guineas and Golden Rose winner Ole Kirk.
Sistonic is the dam of this season’s talented but enigmatic Blue Point (IRE) colt Scampi, a $750,000 Magic Millions purchase for Ciaron Maher.
Sistoic has a yearling filly by Capitalist and was covered by Blue Point (IRE) last spring.
Semillion continues the fine run enjoyed by Woodside Park Stud’s Shalaa (IRE), who stands for $19,800 in 2024.
