Lofty Goals for Sebring's Tea Leaves

Mark Smith - Friday March 5

In a race that kick-started the career of Montefilia, the even money favourite Tea Leaves opened his winning account in Friday’s Beaumont Handicap (1400m) at Newcastle.

It did not come easy. With Tim Clark in the saddle for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the son of Sebring needed all of the long Broadmeadow straight to defeat the Paul Perry-trained Choisir colt Cruel Summer by a half-head with the Criterion colt Last Not Least three lengths back in third.  

Advertisement

Never a factor when making his debut at Canberra, Tea Leaves was coming off a luckless second over 1300m at Wyong on February 25

Future Group 1 winner Montefilia was a $51 chance when she won this at her career debut, before finishing fourth in the Listed Baillieu Handicap at Rosehill and that is the race earmarked for Tea Leaves according to stable representative Neil Paine.

“It was a brilliant finish. It just goes to show his fighting qualities,” Paine said.

“He will only get better as he gets further.

“Speaking to Gai and Adrian his ultimate aim is the (Group 1) Champagne Stakes but he will probably go to the Baillieu after this.

“They will get him home and see how he pulls up, but they are his aims.

“He has improved at every start, is an exciting colt with nice owners so exciting times.”  

Tea Leaves was purchased by his trainers for $325,000 out of the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Tea Leaves a $325,000 Magic Millions yearling

Bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds, the son of Sebring carries the colours of Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock who races him with a group that includes his breeder John Camilleri.

Tea Leaves is the second foal and first winner for the High Chaparral mare Pattini, who was sent to the UK in 2019 to visit Kingman. She is now back at Segenhoe with a Kingman filly foal and is back in foal to him again to Southern Hemisphere time.

A first-up winner over 1309m at Seymour in a career restricted to five starts, Pattini is a three-quarter sister to the stakes-placed Newlands and a half-sister to Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, Group 1 SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes winner Juste Momente and stakes-winner Captain Coltish.

Advertisment

Race Result - Bella Group Serv. Beaumont Hcp 1400m

Newcastle Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:26.24
1
Tea Leaves
- 2c Sebring (AUS) x Pattini (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 58
2
0.1
Cruel Summer
- 2c Choisir (AUS) x Summer Song (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: P M Perry Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 55.5
3
3.1
Last Not Least
- 2c Criterion (NZ) x Boundary (AUS) (Manhattan Rain (AUS))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: K S Latham 57.5
4
4.7
Dark Energy
- 2c Exosphere (AUS) x Mnemosyne (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: C Reith 57
5
4.8
Chitabe
- 2f Belardo (IRE) x The Fire Inside (NZ) (Sir Percy (GB))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55
6
6.3
Gymnastics
- 2f Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Aerobatics (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Rachel King 56.5
7
6.5
Serenata
- 2f Scissor Kick (AUS) x Serenade Lily (NZ) (King's Best (USA))
Tnr: P M Perry Rdr: J Ford 55.5
8
6.9
Another Pharoah
- 2c American Pharoah (USA) x Replique (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: P M Perry Rdr: N Rawiller 57.5
9
12.6
Premonitions
- 2c Nostradamus (AUS) x Swissac (AUS) (Secret Savings (USA))
Tnr: Alexandre Lemarie Rdr: Tom Sherry 57.5
More Reading...
Premier Racing Stables for Sale in New Zealand
A unique opportunity to get a foothold in the heart of thoroughbred country in New Zealand has arisen offering both functionality and prestige within an ideal base to pursue racing success in the leading equine region in the country.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
Bold Showing Tipped for Yes Yes Yes 2YO
Speed Demon will be given every opportunity to live up to his name when he makes his debut at Ellerslie.
One to Watch – Mornington
In Cox Plate week it only seems fitting that the 2013 winner Shamus Award would give us a ‘One to Watch’ at Mornington on Thursday.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).