3 minute read

Seradess shines in Cinderella Stakes at Morphettville.

After becoming Astern's (Medaglia d'Oro) first winner when she broke her maiden at Bendigo on February 23, the Mark Kavanagh-trained Seradess (2 f ex Obsidian Dragon by Hidden Dragon) became the stallion's first stakes winner when she impressively landed the Cinderella Stakes (Listed, 1050m) at Morphettville on Monday. 

On Monday Seradess was ridden by Jamie Kah, who placed her off the speed in the early part of the contest. Once Kah asked Seradess to quicken in the home straight the filly showed a potent turn of foot which put her rivals away in a matter of strides and she posted an ultra easy five and a quarter length victory over Roxy Blue (Air Force Blue). Bolsonaro (Winning Rupert) was a further two and a quarter lengths away in third. 

When Seradess broke her maiden she dead-heated with stakes placegetter Cloudy (Frosted) and Her Empire (Deep Field), who finished third in the race, subsequently went on to occupy that same place in the Breeders Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Flemington last Saturday and those formlines gave Levi Kavanagh confidence ahead of Monday's Listed event. 

"The horse that she dead-heated with on debut had raced in a Group 3 race before that and Her Empire, who finished third in that race at Bendigo also finished third in a Group 3 at Flemington on Saturday … so we knew the form was franked," said Kavanagh.

"She is a really nice filly … and I think at three we'll find out how good she is, but she has qualified for some nice races in the spring now. Yes, there are some pretty good two-year-old races coming up, but you don't get to be a good three-year-old if you go to the well too often as a two-year-old."

Seradess was purchased by her trainer for $50,000 at last year's Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale from the draft of Mill Park and is the only winner out of stakes-placed Hidden Dragon (Danehill) mare Obsidian Dragon. 

Obsidian Dragon herself is a half-sister to Listed winner Danedina (Danehill Dancer) and this is the same pedigree as stakes-winning duo Aptego (Prego) and Amarina (Scenic). 

In 2020 Obsidian Dragon produced a colt by Widden Stud-based Nicconi (Bianconi) - who will relocate to Victoria for the 2021 breeding season after it was announced last month Widden Stud would take over the reins at Sun Stud. Obsidian Dragon has most recently been covered by Coolmore Stud shuttler Magna Grecia (Invincible Spirit). 

Seradess is Astern's only winner from 11 starters and he has one lot catalogued at the upcoming Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, which gets underway on April 6.