The Middlebrook Valley-raised and sold Sejardan’s impressive debut success in the G3 Breeders' Plate was backed with confidence by Verna Metcalfe, whose day ended on another high when Big Parade (Deep Field) took out the closing event at Randwick.
Metcalfe admitted to having a few dollars on Sejardan at double figure odds and as the co-breeder of Big Parade it was a satisfying Saturday for the respected Scone horsewoman.
“It was an awesome day and so good for the farm being in new ownership. We get a lot of winners and we have a lot of people who just breed to race so it was great to win such an important race as the Breeders’ Plate,” Metcalfe said.
Sejardan as a yearling
The 150-hectare operation changed hands last year with the new owners wishing to remain private and more than happy to have Metcalfe continue in her management role of the property.
Sejardan was bred by Middlebrook Valley client Dale Miller and was sold at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where he was knocked down to trainer Gary Portelli for $160,000.
“He was always a really nice colt, very smart and quiet and so easy to do anything with. At the Sale when Gary looked at him, I said, 'this is a very good colt, this boy',” Metcalfe said.
“He (Sejardan) was always a really nice colt, very smart and quiet and so easy to do anything with.” - Verna Metcalfe
“I was rapt Gary got him and I keep in touch with him and he’s always had a really good opinion of Sejardan.
“He was a real professional for us and everything he did was done really well. We only ever had to show him once, he was very switched on.
“We all had a bit of money on him and he won really well. He did exactly the same thing in his barrier trial, he hit the line hard in that as well.”
Sejardan winning the G3 Breeders' Plate
Sejardan’s dam Miss Amajardan (Hinchinbrook) is resident on the farm and her first foal is the Miller-raced and Portelli-trained Crystal’s Legacy (Dissident), who placed as a 2-year-old last season.
“We were going to send Miss Amajardan to Sebring in her first year, but we couldn’t because he had a bout of colic,” Metcalfe said. “We decided to go to Dissident, the best son of Sebring, and we booked her into Sebring the next year.”
Injury ended career
Miss Amajardan won twice as a 2-year-old before an accident curtailed her career.
“Jenny Graham trained her and thought she was a very, very smart horse who should have won more races,” Metcalfe said.
“Apparently, she ran into a fence while she was out spelling and banged up all her nasal passages. She later went back into work, but couldn’t breathe properly so that was it and she’s resided here since then.”
Miss Amajardan is from the family of the Group 1-winning sprinter Laisserfaire (Danehill {USA}) and the G1 VRC Oaks winner Personal (Fastnet Rock).
Miss Amajardan
“She’s got an outstanding Capitalist colt at foot and a really nice Trapeze Artist colt, who will either go to Magic Millions or the Easter Sale,” Metcalfe said. “She hasn’t been covered yet, but will probably go to Trapeze Artist again.
“Dale races a lot of horses and breeds and this one (Sejardan) is the best one he’s bred so far.”
Metcalfe and husband David bred the Mark Newnham-trained Big Parade, who has now won seven of his 14 starts, who was sold under Middlebrook Valley’s banner at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $160,000.
The Deep Field gelding is a son of Crystal Rock (Fastnet Rock), a half-sister to the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. winner, G1 Golden Slipper S. runner-up and sire Zizou. They are out of a half-sister to Not A Single Doubt, now in retirement after a successful stud career.
Big Parade
