Sad loss of Sebring

3 min read

The Australasian breeding industry is mourning the loss of Group 1 winner and producer Sebring, who passed away on Saturday.

The 13-year-old died suddenly at the Thompson family’s Widden Stud in the Hunter Valley, where he retired in 2009 after a glittering career on the track under the guidance of leading Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse.

Sebring subsequently proved to be an outstanding source of success, both in terms of quality and quantity. To date, he has left 469 winners in nine countries at a strike rate of better than 65 per cent and a 7.3 per cent strike rate of stakes winners to runners with progeny earnings in excess of $67 million.

To date, he has produced five individual Group 1 winners headed by the former Australian Horse of the Year and five-time top-flight winner Dissident backed up by Criterion, Lucky Bubbles, Egg Tart and this season’s leading filly Amphitrite.

Sebring has left one of this season's leading fillies in Amphitrite

Sebring has displayed remarkable versatility with Lucky Bubbles proving himself a crack sprinter in Hong Kong, Dissident the supreme Australian miler and Criterion successful up to the classic 2400 metre trip in the Australian Derby.

His progeny have again been to the fore this season, led by his All Star Mile-destined daughter Amphitrite, winner of the G1 Thousand Guineas and most recently the G3 Vanity S. when making a fresh start for Lindsay Park Racing.

Ringerdingding has also been prominent in 2019 with success in the G2 Sandown Guineas.

The Sebring stock have performed at all ages with Seaburge winning the G1 G2 VRC Sires’ Produce S. and training on to finish runner-up in both the G1 Caulfield Guineas and the G1 Emirates S. His G2 Magic Night winning daughter Bring Me The Maid ran third in a G1 Golden Slipper.

A son of one of Australia’s best shuttle stallion success stories in More Than Ready (USA), Sebring was purchased at the 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2007 by Star Thoroughbreds for $130,000.

Sebring

A son of Flying Spur mare Purespeed, who failed to win a race but five of her brood were successful and also included the G2 Ajax S. winner Pureness (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) and Sebring’s sister Falkenberg, who ran third in the G1 Queensland Oaks.

Purespeed’s half-brother Surtee (Memento {USA}) won the G2 San Domenico S. and is also the family of the G2 Silver Slipper S. winner Giostra (Imperial Prince {Ire}).

Sebring proved himself to be the most precocious of youngsters, winning on debut and then claiming the Listed Canonbury S. and the Listed Breeders’ Plate at his next two appearances.

The flying colt then stepped up to the big time and added the G1 Golden Slipper S. to his record before following up with a G1 success in the Sires’ Produce S.

The only defeat of his career came when runner-up to Samantha Miss (Redoute’s Choice) in the G1 Champagne S. after which he subsequently suffered a cannon bone injury and the champion colt, who earned more than $2.5 million, was retired to Widden.

Sebring became the fifth Golden Slipper winner to stand at Widden, following in the illustrious footsteps of Todman, Vain and Marscay – all champion sires in their own right - as well as the 2005 winner Stratum.