Written by Jessica Owers
Each day of the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, TDN AusNZ will find a 'value buy', an opportunity that has been spotted even in this hot sale market. In this edition, we look at Lot 678.
Lot 678 - Super Seth x Poppy O'Neill (NZ) (colt) - $170,000
Buyer: Bahen Bloodstock Ltd and Kris Lees Racing
Vendor: Fernrigg Farm
If the recent sale at Karaka is anything to go by, it’s obvious that the Waikato Stud resident Super Seth is worth watching. The stallion’s first crop is hitting the sales this year, so it was no surprise to see him well-supported at Riverside this week.
One of his yearlings came in the shape of Lot 678, a Kiwi-bred colt from the Pins mare Poppy O’Neill (NZ). He was an interesting purchase for bloodstock agent Justin Bahen and Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, and a sound purchase at $170,000.
Lot 678 - Super Seth x Poppy O'Neill (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
In relation to what some of Super Seth’s progeny have commanded so far this year, it was a good price.
At Karaka 2023, Super Seth’s leading yearling was a Valpolicella (NZ) (Red Ransom {USA}) filly that made NZ$625,000, and she was the fourth highest-priced youngster in the sale. Both Super Seth and Too Darn Hot (GB), both first-crop sires, factored within the top five of Karaka’s Book 1 results by top lots, and they shared the space with the ‘old boys’ Fastnet Rock and Savabeel.
At Magic Millions in January, where things kicked off for Super Seth, seven of his yearlings were sold at a best price of $450,000. All seven made six figures and they went to people like Chris Waller and Guy Mulcaster, the Snowden team and Lindsay Park Racing, plus Julian Blaxland, Anthony Freedman and many others.
At the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale this week, only one was offered, making Lot 678 particularly interesting.
Super Seth | Standing at Waikato Stud
The colt was part of the Fernrigg Farm consignment, and he comes from the family of Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel), whom Kris Lees is well-acquainted with.
The dam of Lot 678 is a half-sister to the G2 Edward Manifold S. winner She Will Be Loved (Strategic), while the G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Luke’s Luck (Show A Heart) factors prominently.
“First and foremost, he was a very athletic colt,” said Justin Bahen, speaking to TDN AusNZ. “He was typical of a Super Seth, and I’ve seen quite a few of them now. I saw a couple as weanlings and I’ve seen more of them as the sales season has started, and I’ve liked what I’ve seen.”
Super Seth was a G1 Caulfield Guineas winner in 2019, backing that up with a pair of Group 3 wins. Bahen has no doubts about the calibre of the stallion.
“I reckon he’s a real chance, I really do,” he said. “Of what I’ve seen, he stamps them. They’re all very athletic and easy on the eye. They’ve got good brains.”
“I reckon he’s (Super Seth) a real chance, I really do. Of what I’ve seen, he stamps them. They’re all very athletic and easy on the eye. They’ve got good brains.” - Justin Bahen
Lot 678 wrapped up a tally of four horses for Bahen Bloodstock at Riverside this week. The others were youngsters by Trapeze Artist, Spirit Of Boom and I Am Invincible. According to the bloodstock agent, this fellow will remain with Lees in the immediate future.
“If you go down to the third dam, Lucia Valentina pops up, who Kris trained,” he said. “So that just added to Kris’ interest in this colt, but in a nutshell, he was just a nice horse, and a beautiful horse standing still. He had real poise and I liked him a lot.”
Bahen wasn’t sure what to expect with price. He always hopes to pay less rather than more, as all do.
Justin Bahen and Kris Lees | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Nice horses, in this market this week, were popular,” he said. “It was a very even sale and the good ones stood out. Did I think $170,000 was good value? I did, actually, in the current environment.
“Of course, $120,000 would have been better, and I thought I might have got him at $130,000, but someone else was underneath me. I was close to my end at $170,000, which was about what I was willing to pay for him.”
With middle-distance ability on the page, the assumption that Lot 678 might go on in distance is tempered by his physical appearance, Bahen said.
“He looks sharp enough. I would have thought he’d be a late 2-year-old, but I wouldn’t say he’ll be the earliest of runners. He looked more like a six- to eight-furlong horse to me, like his dad. He looked a bit like his sire, and Super Seth could run from six furlongs to a mile.”
“He (Lot 678) looks sharp enough. I would have thought he’d be a late 2-year-old, but I wouldn’t say he’ll be the earliest of runners. He looked more like a six- to eight-furlong horse to me, like his dad.” - Justin Bahen
When it comes to first-crop stallions in the sale ring, the risk is the unknown, but it’s all unknown, according to Bahen.
“None of us know if Super Seth is the next big one, or one of the other first-season stallions,” he said. “As a rule, there won’t be many who will be big names, so we’re all just doing our best to tick the boxes on what we see in front of us.
“The pedigree will take you only so far, and when you’re buying first-season sires it’s all on type.”
