New SW Super Seth - Poetic Champion Brilliant Return

Media Release - Saturday September 7

A brilliant return to racing in Saturday’s Listed El Roca-Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Hastings sent a clear message that Poetic Champion will be a force to be reckoned with in three-year-old ranks this season.

Poetic Champion powering away with the Listed El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Hastings on Saturday.  Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

The Super Seth gelding showed bright promise as a juvenile, winning by six lengths on debut last October before finishing third in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m), second in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m), sixth in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), second in the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) and sixth in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m).

Trial cancellations disrupted Poetic Champion’s spring build-up, eventually winning a 950m trial on the Cambridge synthetic track on August 30 – just eight days before Saturday’s black-type feature.

But despite his less-than-ideal preparation and despite coming up against a quality field of three-year-olds at Hastings, Poetic Champion kicked off his three-year-old season with the best performance of his career so far.

Advertisement

The chestnut jumped well from the inside gate for jockey Matt Cartwright and pulled ahead of Grove Street to take up a front-running position after the first 100m. That was where he stayed, dominating the race from the front and never giving the others a look in.

Cartwright pushed the button in the straight and Poetic Champion’s response was spectacular, powering clear to win by two and a quarter lengths from the strong-finishing Savaglee.

“That was lovely,” Cartwright said. “He jumped cleanly. There was a bit of pressure early, but I didn’t want to give the lead up. He half stargazed out in front, but then he was quite explosive after straightening up.

“I thought he might be a bit underdone coming into this race, but Tony Pike is a legend at getting horses right on the day and he’s done that today.”

Bred and raced by Jonathan Munz’s GSA Bloodstock, Poetic Champion has now had seven starts for two wins, three placings and $152,150 in stakes.

The TAB now rates him a $6 chance for the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings on September 28, and he is a $12 chance for the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 9.

“We just had a couple of little niggly issues with this horse towards the end of his two-year-old season,” said Pike, who has previously won the El Roca-Sir Colin Meads Trophy with Bostonian in 2017 and Cyber Attack in 2018. “We’ve put those behind us now and he’s come back in great order.

“I was a little worried that we had a short run-up into this resuming run, only trialling at Cambridge eight days ago. But Matt rode him beautifully in front and got a soft lead. He’s just a really genuine racehorse and I’m rapt to see him back in winning form.

“He’s bred and owned by Jonathan Munz, who also owned Super Seth, so it’s great to get him a stakes win with one of Super Seth’s progeny.

“He’s a really sharp horse, so I’m not too sure how much of a trip he’ll be able to run. We’ll bring him back for the Hawke’s Bay Guineas next, and his performance there will probably help us decide whether or not we carry on down to Riccarton. He might be more of a sprinter, and the heart probably says 1600m might not be his distance, but they can sometimes get away with it against their own age group at three.

“He’s eligible for the NZB Kiwi (1500m) as well, so that’s another target that we can think about.”

Poetic Champion is the third SW for Super Seth.

Poetic Champion became the third individual stakes winner for exciting young Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth, who is also the sire of Sydney Group Three winner Linebacker as well as last season’s Listed winner Super Photon, who finished fourth in Saturday’s El Roca-Sir Colin Meads Trophy. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

Advertisment

Race Result - El Roca - Sir Colin Meads Trophy LR 1200m

Hastings Track: Good(4) Time: 1:10.37
1
Poetic Champion
- 3g Super Seth (AUS) x Regally Blonde (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 57
NZB Karaka Book 1 $0
Seller: Haunui Farm
Buyer: Psd, Res $80,000
2
2.3
Savaglee
- 3g Savabeel (AUS) x Glee (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Ms P Gerard Rdr: S C Spratt 57
NZB Karaka Book 1 $400,000
Seller: Waikato Stud Ltd
Buyer: The Oaks Stud
3
3.6
Full Force
- 3g Cosmic Force (AUS) x Jawhara (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Hollie Wynyard Rdr: R T Elliot 57
NZB Karaka Book 1 $135,000
Seller: Kilgravin Lodge
Buyer: Benner Racing
Inglis Australian Weanling Sale $70,000
Seller: Mullaglass Stud, Scone
Buyer: R & E Bloodstock
4
5.4
Super Photon
- 3c Super Seth (AUS) x Chandelier (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: Joe Doyle 57
5
5.5
Move To Strike
- 3c I Am Invincible (AUS) x No Evidence Needed (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: O P Bosson 57
6
5.6
Grove Street
- 3c Ferrando (NZ) x Dancing Song (NZ) (Senor Pete (USA))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: L T Hemi 57
7
7.9
Skippers Canyon
- 3g Belardo (IRE) x Goldsumware (NZ) (Refuse To Bend (IRE))
Tnr: J V Wallace Rdr: W B Kennedy 57
8
9.7
Ballon d'Or
- 3g U S Navy Flag (USA) x Ireland's Teardrop (IRE) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Peter & Shaun Mckay Rdr: M Hashizume 57
More Reading...
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Winner for Super Seth Bolts in by Six Lengths!
Exciting two-year-old prospect Poetic Champion produced an emphatic first victory for young Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth at Hawera on Saturday.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.