Sebring's Violate Chases Spot in All Star Mile

Mark Smith - Saturday March 2

Trainer Brent Stanley will be sweating on a wildcard entry for the $5 million All-Star Mile with the Sebring gelding Violate following his fighting win in Saturday's Group III Shaftesbury Avenue Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.

Having his first run in 20 weeks, Violate was obliged to race three-wide the trip under Michael Walker before he wore down the game Streets of Avalon (Magnus) by a long-neck with three-quarter of a length back to Zebulon (All American) in third. (image Grant Courtney)

Advertisement

Narrowly beaten in the same race 12 months ago, Violate added the Group III success to his win in the Listed VRC Sofitel Stakes over the same track and distance last September.


"He deserved that so hopefully he can get a run in that race (the All-Star Mile) in a couple of weeks' time," Stanley said.

"He showed how good he is. He had the toughest run, three-wide with no cover and was the first to put the peddle down and was getting away from them on the line.

"If they don't pick him (for the All-Star Mile) those that finished behind him shouldn't be in it either. He'll be peaking in two weeks and a mile is perfect for him.

"He got beaten a nose in this race last year and has been beaten a whisper in a couple of Group II's and was fourth in a Group 1 and he has seriously been unlucky a hell of a lot of times, he's a good horse and proved it.

"It's his second preparation since being gelded and you'll see a very consistent racehorse now."

A $70,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Cloud 9 Thoroughbreds from the draft of Turangga Farm, Violate advances his record to record of 4 wins, 5 seconds and 4 thirds from 31 starts with earnings of $469,600.

Bred and offered for sale by Turangga Farm, Violate is the best of two winners from Shantha's Girl, an unraced Redoute's Choice daughter of Group I VRC Emirates Stakes winner Sky Cuddle.

A three-quarter sister to Group III winner and multiple Group I placed Champagne Cuddles, Shantha's Girl was sold for $155,000 at the Turangga Farm Dispersal to Olly Tait's Twin Hills.

She has a colt foal by Triple Crown hero American Pharoah (USA) and was bred back to Pride Of Dubai.

Violate becomes the first stakes-winner for Sebring following his tragic death at Widden Stud last Saturday.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Second Stakes in a Week for Sebring's Wu Gok
Wu Gok had two younger siblings beat him to the punch in landing a stakes win but the six-year-old son of Sebring is fast making up for lost time adding Friday’s Listed Wyong Cup to his last start win in the Group III ATC Premier's Cup at Rosehill.
Sun Bloodstock’s Blossom on Snow Goes Two for Two
Talented Sebring filly Blossom on Snow opened her career with a dominant debut victory at Wangaratta last month and proved that win was no fluke when scoring an eye-catching win at Caulfield on Wednesday.
Best On Breeding
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.  
Pride of Jenni Too Good for Treasurethe Moment in G2 Feehan
Pride of Jenni might be an eight year-old mare that is drawing ever closer to the end of her glorious career, but there was a sparkle in her eye before the Group II MVRC Feehan Stakes (1600m) and it was the Jenni of old that ran her rivals ragged at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Melbourne Cup Winning Trainer Secures $625,000 Sebring Colt
Widden Stud’s much missed Sebring achieved his best result of the sale so far at Magic Millions on Friday when a stunning colt from Miss Rose de Lago fetched $625,000 to the bid of Danny O’Brien.
Ardrossan Filly Wins First Kiwi Juvenile Race of New Season
Otaki horseman Johno Benner has a good association with the Karaka Millions, and he could have another serious contender on his hands for January’s showpiece.
30 Runners in Goffs Million!
The stage is set for Europe’s richest two-year-old race, the Goffs Million (7f), which has attracted a maximum field of 30 runners at the Curragh this Saturday and the €1 million contest, with prize money down to 10th, is only open to graduates of last year’s Goffs Orby Sale.
€1.9million Sale-Topping Colt Wins G3 Somerville Stakes
The Group III Somerville Stakes (7f) was run at Newmarket overnight with the Godolphin blue carried by exciting Night of Thunder colt Distant Storm, who they purchased for a sale-topping €1.9million at the Arqana May Breeze Up Sale earlier this year.
Toronado’s Snow Mercy Takes Out G3 Scarborough Stakes
Coming off the back of a maiden victory at Morphettville recently at just her second start, the Phillip Stokes trained Snow Mercy highlighted her future class with an impressive victory in the Group 3 MVRC Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Wootton Bassett Colt Wins G2 Stutt Stakes
The racing and breeding world was shocked earlier this week by the passing of champion sire Wootton Bassett (GB), whose talented son West of Swindon picked the right race in which to break his maiden when scoring a bold front running victory in the $300,000 Group II MVRC Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.