New Coolmore acquisition Super Seth sired the winner of last year’s Group I BRC Queensland Derby in Maison Louis and will have another great chance in the race this year in progressive three year-old Kilman, winner of the $250,000 Group III BRC Rough Habit Stakes (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Champion trainer Chris Waller claimed a fourth straight win the key Queensland Derby lead up, with three of those winners being New Zealand-breds.
Kilman led all the way for a $25 upset, following on from the 2025 winner Imperialist, 2024 winner Tannhauser and 2023 winner Special Swey.
Saturday’s Rough Habit Plate triumph rewarded the patience of Waller and Kilman’s owners, Neville Morgan and David Devine.
The son of Super Seth was a smart winner on debut at Warwick Farm back in March of 2025, but had gone winless in 10 races through the 14 months since then.
There had been some promising performances during that win drought, including big runs for second in the Group III ATC Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Randwick and fourth in the Group II BRC Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm in his previous two appearances.
On Saturday he stepped up to 2000m for the first time and got back in the winning groove.
Taken to the front by Ryan Maloney, he led throughout and gave a good kick off the turn that proved a winning move.
Kilman held his rivals at bay to win by a length over Pierro gelding Beauty Swift with his stablemate and race favourite Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Providence finishing off for third.
“I was really rapt with his run the other day (in the Queensland Guineas), and Chris was happy for me to go forward on him today,” Maloney said.
“The wide barrier obviously determined how much I had to do to get to the front, but I couldn’t believe how easily I got there. Once we got to the front, he switched off beautifully.
“I thought the fence was as good a place to be as anywhere, it was the shortest way home and he was too good today.
“He’ll definitely relax well enough to get the 2400m of the Derby (at Eagle Farm on May 30). He switched off beautifully for me today. He conserved his energy really well.”
A $360,000 Magic Millions purchase from Waikato Stud for Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock, Kilman has the overall record of two wins and a second from 12 starts with prizemoney topping $260,000.
“He’s made a lot of physical progression,” Waller said.
“He ran well in the Carbine Club and Queensland Guineas, and he was excellent again today under a very good ride by Ryan.”
Bred by Waikato Stud, Kilman is the best of three winners from five foals to race from stakes-winning O’Reilly mare Thy, who was placed in the Group I ATC Australian Oaks.
A three-quarter brother-in-blood to Super Seth’s stakes-placed Hong Kong based galloper Patch of Cosmos, Kilman comes from a family steeped in Black Type as Thy is a half-sister to Group I winner La Diosa from Group II winner Star Affair with the pedigree also featuring Group I winners The Jewel, The chosen One and The Perfect Pink.
Kilman is the tenth stakes-winner for Super Seth, whose fee at Coolmore Australia has been set at $137,500.
