Retired to Widden Stud in 2009, More Than Ready's Golden Slipper winning son
Sebring has been a runaway success from day one.His first crop produced nine stakes-winners headed by Australian Horse of the Year Dissident and $7million earner Criterion with a steady stream of top class stakes horses following their path to the winner's circle ever since.
A year ago, his top class three year-old filly Egg Tart dominated her rivals to win both the Group I BRC Queensland Oaks (2400m) and the Group I SAJC Australasian Oaks (2000m), while his slick Hong Kong based sprinting son Lucky Bubbles won the Group I Chairman's Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin.
Sprinters, stayers and precocious two year-olds, Sebring can get them all… and frequently in the same horse!
"Dissident
and Criterion were both stakes-winning juveniles that trained on to do amazing
things as three and four year olds over all distances," pointed out
Widden Stud's Ryan McEvoy.
"The current market is clearly insatiable for two year-olds and sprinters
that can be up and running for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and Golden Slipper,
but perhaps the true reflection of a stallion is having progeny competitive in
these rich juvenile races that also train on to be winning at the highest level
as three year-olds. Sebring is a stallion that allows owners to dream
big.
"It's an interesting dynamic this year with regards to elite, commercially successful, proven stallions in Australia. We feel when comparing Sebring to the stallions in his price range he looks genuinely great value."
Some of the richest races for three year-olds in the country are run at distances of 1600 metres and upwards, so why not breed a horse that has the potential for a bite at every cherry on offer.
Sebring has sired over 110 winners this season of $7.5 million in prizemoney
including eight two year-old winners headed by stakes-winner Futooh, who had
the honour of becoming his 40th stakes-winner.At 12 years of age, Sebring is at the very height of his powers and has covered outstanding books of mares in recent years that will ensure his star continues to shine.
"Sebring has had a phenomenal last 12 months since the start of April of last year," Antony Thompson reflected.
"Having sired some 42 Stakes Performers, 17 Stakes Winners including two Group I winners in this period there was an expectation to increase fee given the ongoing success of his progeny.
"He's enjoyed a yearling average at both major sales of over $240,000 with a
top lot of $1.4m so we feel his fee maintained at $66,000 represents terrific
value."Sebring is from a daughter of another Golden Slipper winner in Flying Spur (by Danehill), so is a stallion that has contributed greatly to the growing achievements of horses bred with a double cross of Danehill.
10 of Sebring's 40 stakes-winners have a double cross of Danehill as do a further 19 stakes-placed horses, so the double up is no drawback for breeders pondering his suitability for a Danehill line mare.
Priced at $66,000, Sebring will be joined at Widden this spring by his
brilliant sprinting son Supido, a good looking stallion with a very similar
race record to I Am Invincible.A Group III winner in Melbourne capable of running record breaking time, Supido was also Group I placed in the SAJC Goodwood Handicap as was I Am Invincible.
Standing a high class son of your own stallion has delivered success this season for Widden with Zoustar, the Champion First Season Sire elect being a son of much missed Widden favourite Northern Meteor.
In standing Stratum Star (by Stratum), who covered 116 mares last spring and now Supido, Widden are seeking to build on the success of their sires through the next generation.
