Sebring Filly Off The Canvas to Win Champion Fillies Stakes

Mark Smith - Sunday November 19

The Sebring filly Mikimoto lost her unbeaten record when third in Saturday's $200,000 Group III W A Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) but the future looks bright for the winner Art Series who also happens to be a daughter of Sebring.

Ridden by Joseph Azzopardi for trainer Darren McAuliffe, Art Series overcame a troubled run to defeat Private Dancer (Oratorio) by a nose with the odds-on favourite Mikimoto a short-neck back in third.

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McAuliffe said he was dumbfounded by his filly's win.


"She shouldn't have won that, she was flattened four or five times in the straight and she had no luck," McAuliffe said.

"Go back and watch the replay, you will be absolutely astonished how she won that, it's just crazy.

"She's just got a will to win that you don't see in many horses.

"This filly came over on truck from the Hunter Valley and I said to her breeder Jay Anthonisz you might want to come over and look at her because she is the best filly I have clapped eyes on.

"She hasn't grown a lot since those days but it's great to have those guys support me and repay the faith."

The $500,000 Group II WA Guineas at Ascot on November 25 is expected to be the next stop for Art Series.

Never off the board in 10 starts, Art Series advances her record to 5 wins, 1 second and 4 thirds with earnings of $384,800

The 3yo daughter of Sebring is the sixth live foal of the Don't Say Halo mare Left Alone who is a daughter of the stakes-placed Sovereign Striker (Top Operator) a sister to Listed WATC Burgess Queen Stakes winner Zamerator and a half-sister to 6-time stakes winner Arctic Park (Bletchley Park) and dual Listed Stakes winner Power Plus (Serheed).

Left Alone has a 2yo filly by Your song who was passed in short of her $40,000 reserve at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale and a yearling colt by Rubick.

She was covered by Dawn Approach (IRE) last spring.

Art Series becomes the 35th stakes winner for Sebring who stands at Widden Stud in 2017 at a fee of $66,000.

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