Semillion Breaks a Two-Year drought in Takeover Target Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday May 11

After racing with little luck, the stars aligned for the 4-year-old Shalaa (IRE) gelding Semillion in Saturday’s $250,000 Listed De Bortoli Wines Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Newcastle.

Back in the winner's circle (image Steve Hart)

Back in the winner's circle (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by Zac Lloyd for Michael Wayne and John Hawkes, Semillion won his first race in two years, with a front running display to defeat the 4-year-old Sebring mare Tashi by a length with the 6-year-old Zosustar gelding Astero in third.

Advertisement

It was his first win since the Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes in April 2022.

The winner of the $400,000 Inglis Banner at Moonee Vally on debut, Semillion advances his record to three wins, three seconds, and two thirds from 18 starts with earnings of $741,050.

“The plan was to go forward and it was a matter of what wanted to take him on,” Michael Hawes said.

“When they transferred this race to Newcastle, it was probably a great thing for racing, but Gosford would have suited this bloke better with a shorter straight.

“With nothing taking him on, he jumped, relaxed and got into a beautiful rhythm. Zac let him go through his gears and, with a lightweight, won well.

“He was flying in Melbourne. He should have won last start but drew a bad barrier and was pipped on the post.

“In this day and age, barriers win races. He drew well today, and it was a deserving win for him.

Semillion is back (image Steve Hart)

Semillion is back (image Steve Hart)

“He is a lightly raced son of Shalaa and has won over $600,000, and the ownership group have been great.”

Bred by Dorrington Farm’s Robert Crabtree, Semillion was purchased by International Thoroughbred Solutions (FBAA) for $300,000 out of the Blue Gum Farm draft at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

He is the best of two winners from as many to race out of the Bel Esprit mare Sistonic, a sister to stakes-winner Iconic and a three-quarter sister to the immortal Black Caviar and to the dam of Caulfield Guineas and Golden Rose winner Ole Kirk.

Semillion is a $300,000 Inglis Premier yearling

Semillion is a $300,000 Inglis Premier yearling

Sistonic is the dam of this season’s talented but enigmatic Blue Point (IRE) colt Scampi, a $750,000 Magic Millions purchase for Ciaron Maher.

Sistoic has a yearling filly by Capitalist and was covered by Blue Point (IRE) last spring.

Semillion continues the fine run enjoyed by Woodside Park Stud’s Shalaa (IRE), who stands for $19,800 in 2024. 

Advertisment

Race Result - De Bortoli Wines Takeover Target Stakes LR 1200m

Newcastle Track: Heavy(9) Time: 1:11.09
1
Semillion
- 4g Shalaa (IRE) x Sistonic (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Zac Lloyd 53
2
1
Tashi
- 4m Sebring (AUS) x Ghenwaa (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Reece Jones 53
3
1.4
Astero
- 6g Zoustar (AUS) x Lacey Lou (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: Jaden Lloyd 54
4
1.6
Estadio Mestalla
- 5g Galileo Gold (GB) x Superior Charm (USA) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: J Ford 53
5
4.4
Diamond Diesel
- 7g Mossman (AUS) x Malacca Cane (AUS) (Big Brown (USA))
Tnr: Adam Duggan Rdr: Rachel King 54
6
4.5
Devil's Throat
- 5g Snitzel (AUS) x Miss Iguacu (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Tom Sherry 54
7
4.7
Wategos
- 5g Capitalist (AUS) x Happy Hippy (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: B Looker 53
8
7.3
Grand Impact
- 4h Satono Aladdin (JPN) x Serena Slam (NZ) (Swiss Ace (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Regan Bayliss 54
9
13.4
Fox Fighter
- 5g Foxwedge (AUS) x Stage Beauty (AUS) (Desert Prince (IRE))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: A B Collett 54
10
13.7
Sinawann
- 7g Kingman (GB) x Simawa (IRE) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: C Schofield 54.5
11
18.4
Fifteen Rounds
- 8g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Sugar Bay (CAN) (Syncline (USA))
Tnr: Wayne Brown Rdr: Jett Stanley 54
More Reading...
Tassie Derby Winner Strikes Form at Flemington
Four-year-old Bold Soul returned to winning ways at Flemington, where he again emphasised his depths of stamina, repelling the challenge of Goldenstatewarrior and Muktamil under apprentice jockey Thomas Prebble.
Cork Wins Tauranga Classic
After hard-luck stories in the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m) in both of the last two winters, Cork made amends in style on Saturday with a $22 upset in the fillies and mares’ feature.
Headley Grange Gives Exosphere 11th Stakes Winner
A model of consistency with 17 top four placed finishes from 18 starts, Joe Pride’s 4yo Exosphere gelding Headley Grange stepped up to black type race for the first time with instant success, winning the $200,000 Listed ATC Civic Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
Second Time Lucky As Flash Ahh Wins Ipswich Cup
Having finished third in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) back in 2021, rising 10yo Lucas Cranach (GER) gelding Flash Aah was back for another attempt on Saturday, winning the staying feature as part of the Troy Pascoe yard.
Godolphin’s Kin Wins Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic
After recording her first black type victory during last year’s spring carnival, the James Cummings trained Kin has produced three quality black type efforts during the Queensland carnival, resulting in a thoroughly deserving victory in Saturday's $160,000 Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1200m) at Ipswich.
Four in a Row for Kiwi Bred 3YO Taken
Three-year-old gelding Taken is proving quite the money spinner for connections, with a victory in Saturday’s Rod Johnson Handicap (1620m) at Flemington the fourth in succession for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained galloper.
Shalaa Colt Makes Winning Debut in Inglis Banner
Shalaa (IRE) sure can get an early runner, and he has another one in Semillion who made a winning career debut in Saturday’s $400,000 Inglis Banner (RL) at Moonee Valley.
Peltzer 2YO Impressive at Flemington
Twin Hills Stud’s young sire Peltzer has only had a handful of runners from his first crop so far, but he appears to have a winner that might be well above average in progressive gelding Buccleuch.
Promising Flemington Winner for El Roca
Progressive three-year-old Stop The Rock continued his climb through the grades when the Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained gelding ran out a solid winner of the Ken Cox Handicap (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 21
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.