Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Thursday September 22

It's an embarrassment of three-year-old riches for Godolphin with In Secret and Golden Mile favoured to fight out Saturday's $1,000,000 Group 1 Golden Rose at Rosehill a week after Aft Cabin went to the head of betting for the Caulfield Guineas following a three and a half-length romp in the Guineas Prelude.  

Marked down following their seasonal debuts are three of last season's leading two-year-olds, Fireburn, She's Extreme, and Sejardan. All three should be improved by the runs, and hopefully, Sejardan can recapture the form that made him a sought-after stallion prospect.

Widden Stud's Antony Thompson with Sebring (image Mark Smith)

A brilliant winner of the Breeders' Plate, the son of Sebring added the $1,000,000 Golden Gift. Beaten for the first time when third Xtravagant Star and Paris d'Or in the Inglis Millennium, Sejardan bounced back to win the Group II Todman Stakes.

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Spelled after a troubled ninth behind stablemate Fireburn in the Golden Slipper, Sejardan was a battling seventh of nine behind In Secret in the Run To The Rose at Rosehill on September 10.

Sejardan has the looks, performance and breeding to take his place at a leading stud.

In 2009, Widden Stud showcased two new stallions, Sebring and Northern Meteor. Sebring had ten crops and Northern Meteor just four, but what a legacy they left.

Northern Meteor's line is thriving through the likes of Zoustar and Deep Field.

Sebring's Horse Of The Year, Dissident, has proved a reliable source of winners without living up to expectations. At the same time, Sebring’s son Gold Standard left last season's Group 1 BRC JJ Atkins Stakes winner Sheeza Belter in his first crop, and Supido has been enjoying a run of success.

Sejardan comes from Sebring’s final crop.

A $160,000 Inglis Classic purchase for his trainer from the Middlebrook Valley Lodge draft, Sejardan was bred by Dale Miller, who bought Sejardan's dam Miss Amajardan for just $6,500 at the 2015 Inglis Scone Select Yearling Sale.

Sejardan a $160,000 Inglis Classic yearling

Miller remains in the ownership of Sejardan along with John and Anne McDonnell, who raced Sebring, and members of the Wallace family that raced Choisir.

The winner of two and placed in three of her seven starts, Miss Amajardan descends from Don Storey's magnificent Vain mare Rainbeam.

The winner of the STC Silver Slipper and AJC Widden Stakes, Rainbeam is a  sister to SAJC Swettenham Stud Stakes winner Wicked Smile. Her dam Rain Shadow (Todman) is a granddaughter of the Melbourne Cup heroine Rainbird, who was second in the Caulfield Cup, Sydney Cup, and VRC Oaks.

Rainbeam is the dam of Centaine, a cornerstone of the success of Waikato Stud, and Centaine's sister Reigntaine, the dam of stakes-winners Galapagos Girl, Kampaign, and Procrastinate.

Dual Group III winner Galapagos Girl is the dam of ATC Fireball Stakes winner Villami, but there is no doubt about the team's star.

Group III, VATC Tristarc Stakes winner Procrastinate, left a remarkable five stakes winners.

Her colts Foreplay and Time Thief found places at stud, While her daughters included the 5-time Group 1 winning South African champion Laisserfaire, Listed SAJC Queen Adelaide Stakes winner Personify, and Group III MRC Geoffrey Belmaine Stakes winner A Time For Julia.

Personify is the dam of Group 1 VRC Oaks winner Personal, while a Time For Julia is getting every chance to succeed by Fairway Thoroughbreds. Her promising Deep Impact (JPN) filly As Time Goes By is back in work for Anthony and Sam Freedman.  

Procrastinate's granddaughter Jahre (Encosta De Lago) is the dam of stakes-placed Blazing Miss and Tristate, as well as Miss Amajardan, whose two-year-old half-brother to Sejardan by Trapeze Artist was a $250,000 purchase for Golden River / All Winners from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

After foaling a Capitalist colt last spring, Miss Amajardan revisited Trapeze Artist. 

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