Sethito Looking to Continue Super Seth Stakes Surge

Media Release - Friday March 21

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott will take a trio of three-year-olds to Trentham on Saturday in search of a second straight win in the Gr.2 IRT Wellington Guineas (1400m).

The Matamata trainers won the race by a wide margin last year with Grail Seeker, who has gone on to add the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and Telegraph (1200m) as a four-year-old this season.

Dual black-type winner Sethito heads a three-pronged Wellington Guineas contingent for Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott.   Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

This year’s Wexford Stables contingent is made up of Sethito, Cheaha and Wounder.

Sethito finished sixth in the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie two weeks ago. She was blocked for the first half of the home straight, but produced a strong finish when she found clear air in the final 200m. She crossed the finish line 3.4 lengths behind the winner Damask Rose.

A well-related daughter of Super Seth and multiple Group One winner Suavito, Sethito has won three of her seven starts including this season’s Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) and Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m). She will shoot for a third stakes win over that same distance on Saturday.

“Sethito came through her very good run in the Kiwi well,” Scott said. “We just thought this looked like another suitable opportunity for her to race for some more black type. She galloped very nicely this week and we see this as being probably her pet distance. Vinnie Colgan will ride her and she should be a good chance.”

Sethito has drawn the second-from-outside gate and is rated a $5.50 second favourite by the TAB. Last-start winner Tardelli heads the market at $3.70.

O’Sullivan and Scott’s other runners are the $12 chance Cheaha and $23 shot Wounder.

Cheaha made a big impression with a debut victory at Rotorua in December, then only battled home in fifth in his first try at 1400m at Matamata. He dropped back in trip and produced a barnstorming finish from second-last to run third in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie in January.

“Cheaha’s best form has been over 1200m, so going up to 1400m is a test for him,” Scott said. “But he trialled nicely last week and had a good hitout on Tuesday. We believe he’s going very well.”

Advertisement

Wounder showed early promise with a win and two fourths from her first three starts, then stepped up to 1800m and finished sixth in last month’s Listed Oaks Prelude.

“Some of Wounder’s form has been very strong coming through the grades,” Scott said. “We got her up to 1800m last time and she just didn’t look quite as strong in the finish. Bringing her back in trip, we expect an improved performance.”

O’Sullivan and Scott’s other runners at Trentham on Saturday are Kelly Coe in the Gr.3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m) and Lux Libertas in the Listed Bill Tito Book Repair Specialist Lightning Handicap (1200m).

Kelly Coe is stepping down from the elite level, having finished eighth and only three lengths from the winner Provence in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie on March 8.

“Kelly Coe took on Group One company at Ellerslie last time and didn’t finish far away at all, and she didn’t have everything go her way in the running either,” Scott said. “Switching back left-handed suits her, most of her racing has been that way around. She’s also won at Trentham previously, and we think this looks a very suitable race to target with her.”

Lux Libertas made rapid progress through the grades between July and November last year, when an eight-race sequence produced five wins and a second in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).

The four-year-old Almanzor mare was last seen in the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m) at Matamata on February 15, where she ran eighth behind Legarto after a three-wide run.

“She’s had a nice little freshen up since the Lisa Chittick a few weeks ago,” Scott said.

“It’s a step down in distance, but it’s a bit more of a testing 1200m there at Trentham and we wouldn’t be surprised at all if she was very competitive on the fresh side.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sethito on Track for $3.5million Kiwi
Four confirmed candidates for the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) had their final dress rehearsal in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, and a classy performance by Sethito put a spring in the step of her connections and slot-holders.
Expensive I Am Invincible Mare Wins G1 Sangster
The highest priced filly at the 2022 Magic Millions Yearling Sale when selling for $1.55million, I Am Invincible filly Charm Stone has been a star from day one and that translated to Group I success in Adelaide on Saturday when she swooped from the clouds to win the $1million Group I SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m).
Gold Cup Hero Delivers Another Milestone for Kincaid
Riviera Rebel has been a special horse for rookie trainer Brooke Kincaid, who had her first taste of black-type success in Saturday’s Gr.3 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) at Riccarton.
First Stakes Win for Betty Spaghetti
Local trainer Anna Furlong played a starring role at Riccarton on Saturday with a winning treble, headlined by Betty Spaghetti’s first black-type success in the Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m).
Sires With Winners - Saturday April 26
Here is the full list of 102 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Bred Tenzing wins Listed Brisbane Mile
New Zealand-bred gelding Tenzing took his career to new heights with a first black-type win in Saturday’s A$300,000 Listed Jones & Co IGA Brisbane Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
First Stakes Winner For I Am Immortal
Putting the writing on the wall last time out when a narrow second in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m), the Philip Stokes trained Athanatos appreciated the step up in trip, winning the Group 3 SAJC Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) to become the first stakes winner for Swettenham Stud's I Am Immortal.
Travis Stakes Redemption for Val Di Zoldo
Val Di Zoldo’s victory in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday showed what a difference a year can make.
Princess Winner Takes All Too Hard to 30 Stakes Winners
Highlighted as a Brednet One To Watch when breaking her maiden in February, the David Vandyke trained Philia (All Too Hard) has added a further two wins including a facile two length victory in the Listed Princess Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Super Seth Filly Set to Star for Wexford Stables
Wexford Stables are bullish about landing a couple of knockout blows at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.