Friday 20th February 2026
Coolmore purchases Super Seth
Star young stallion Super Seth (Dundeel), sire of four Group One winners from his first two crops, has been purchased by Coolmore from Waikato Stud to stand at its Hunter Valley base.
The Caulfield Guineas-winning son of Dundeel will relocate to Coolmore Australia following six seasons at Waikato Stud, where he has developed into one of the most exciting young stallions in Australasia.
The young stallion’s first crop included Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) winner Linebacker (NZ), Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) winner Feroce (NZ) and Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) winner Maison Louis (NZ), while the second crop is headed by Karaka Millions 2YO and Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce (1400m) winner La Dorada (NZ).
“Super Seth has been on our radar for a while now and he strikes us as a stallion that can make a significant impact on the Australian breeding industry.” said Coolmore’s, Tom Magnier.
“For a young horse, the trajectory that he is on is something that is very rarely seen. To produce three Group One winners in Australia from his first crop and follow it up with a Champion Two-Year-Old in his second, is an amazing achievement. Justin Carey and I came over to see him and his young stock at Waikato this week and we are very impressed by what we saw. He is going to be ideal for so many Australian mares, both physically and on pedigree.
“It is a serious coup for us to be given the opportunity to buy Super Seth from Mark, Pippa and the Chittick family. Waikato Stud and the New Zealand industry have done all the hard work to get him to the position that he is in now and we look forward to getting him back to Australia and sending our very best mares to him. When it comes to making elite stallions, the Chittick family have got it right time and time again by producing multiple Champion Sires and we have a firm belief that Super Seth is the next one.”
“Super Seth will not be completely lost to New Zealand however, as a number of his existing New Zealand-based shareholders are staying in with us and Waikato will also continue to support him. Coolmore send yearlings to Karaka to sell each year, and we will be sending Super Seth’s with the ‘C’ brand over to sell in 2029 and beyond.”
“This is a massive achievement for the New Zealand industry, our fellow breeders and Super Seth’s shareholders who went all-in to help Waikato develop this world-class stallion,” said Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick.
“But also, for the Waikato team and our stallion manager, Ryan Figgins. It’s very hard to make a stallion, let alone to do it during the COVID-19 pandemic where there was so much uncertainty; it’s a very big achievement for New Zealand. It makes the early mornings and long nights a little easier knowing what we’re doing is working.
“On behalf of the Chittick family, thank you very much to the Magnier family and Coolmore team, whose enthusiasm to support New Zealand will continue on through joining us in our new stallion Return To Conquer. And to our breeders, very well done – it’s a privilege to be part of this industry with you all.” – NZ Racing Desk
Ka Ying Rising chases record 18th consecutive win in Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup
Trainer David Hayes takes his chance at history on Sunday afternoon (22 February) at Sha Tin when Ka Ying Rising attempts to win an 18th consecutive race – the most by a Hong Kong-trained horse – in the HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m), which is carded as Race 8 and will be run at 4.35pm.
Locked on 17 straight victories with Silent Witness, Ka Ying Rising is aiming to break the deadlock against nine rivals, and continue his unbeaten streak which began in February, 2024 that has since encompassed seven Group 1 wins and crowns as Hong Kong Champion Griffin (2023/24), Hong Kong Champion Sprinter (2024/25), Hong Kong Champion Four-Year-Old (2024/25) and Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2024/25).
Hayes said: “I’m very excited about the opportunity to try and break Silent Witness’ record. His gallop was good – it was just his usual Ka Ying Rising gallop, and he’s very much in his routine, and it seems to suit him.”
The 138-rater and earner of HK$129.85 million boasts 18 career wins from 20 starts, tasting defeat only twice during his first season of competition. The five-year-old son of Shamexpress will make his sixth appearance this term, contesting a race he won last year by a length and a half as he tries to make Hong Kong racing history.
“He’s only run at 1400 metres once and that was in this race last year. I know he’ll run it and I know he’s better this year than he was last year. If they go too fast in the race he’ll sit second or third and if they go too slow, he’ll lead,” Hayes said.
“Zac (Purton) is very uncomplicated on him. I’m excited and I’m really looking forward to it – I’ll be a bit nervous on the day as I always am, but it’s a very surreal feeling in a Group 1 saddling a horse who is a one-dollar favourite. Not many trainers get to do that, and I can tell you it’s not as easy as it looks.”
Ka Ying Rising – who breaks from barrier three on Sunday – galloped on Sha Tin’s dirt course on Monday (16 February) in 24.2s under his work rider and today (Friday, 20 February) in 28.0s after a barrier trial on Tuesday (10 February) with superstar rider Purton in the plate, clocking an easy 1m 08.03s (24.0, 22.0, 22.0) for the 1200m hit-out.
Hayes said: “We’re in a very strict routine. It’s the same people working with him and we can’t be happier – he’s fantastic. He’s bigger, stronger and better than last year. My team has done an incredible job with him.”
Among Ka Ying Rising’s streak is success in the 2025 G1 The Everest (1200m), worth AU$20 million (approx. HK$101 million), at Royal Randwick in Sydney, Australia – a race he is targeting again later this year.
All runners are assigned 126lb this Sunday. Lucky Sweynesse, Helios Express, Red Lion, Galaxy Patch, Sunlight Power, Copartner Prance, Patch Of Theta, Raging Blizzard and Packing Hermod also feature in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.
“Helios Express is better suited at this distance against Ka Ying Rising. It’s a good distance for him; Lucky Sweynesse is back in form, but if it was a handicap, Ka Ying Rising would be giving some of them 20 pounds – he will be short in the market and, well, he probably should be,” Hayes said.
Sunday’s (22 February) 11-race fixture at Sha Tin commences with the Class 4 Daffodil Handicap (1000m) at 1pm. - Hong Kong Jockey Club
NZ Racing Desk
Joshua Smith
Joshua Smith
Joshua Smith
Paul Vettise
NZ Racing Desk
🎥 Did you see?
Joe Doyle and the Wexford Stables team will be out to try and claim another Classic together with Ohope Wins in the NZ Oaks at Ellerslie. We spent Tuesday morning with the team at Matamata trackwork for a behind the scenes look!
