La Dorada (NZ) Supreme in Sires

Te Akau Racing's star filly La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) had already made history with her unprecedented double in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and Group Two Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m), and now her CV has a Group One glow.

La Dorada blew her rivals away by three and a half lengths in Saturday's $550,000 Group One Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1200m) at Trentham. It was her fourth win from five starts and took her earnings past $1m. She was bought by David Ellis for $190,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2024.

An outstanding winner of the Karaka Millions 2YO in January and Matamata Breeders' Stakes in February, La Dorada was a leading contender for this month's Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie but was scratched on the morning of the race due to an elevated temperature. Another three weeks passed before her next Group One opportunity, but La Dorada rewarded her connections’ patience with a performance that was well worth the wait.

Put in a perfect spot in fourth and one off the rail by jockey Michael McNab, La Dorada was cruising coming up to the home turn and poised to pounce. McNab released the brakes in the straight and it was all over within the blink of an eye. La Dorada suddenly burst clear and was in a class of her own in the final 150 metres.

“This filly is an absolute star,” McNab said “There’s not much of her, but she has great ability, great heart and just a great will to win.

“She’s not the best at cornering. She sort of pops herself out. She did that at Matamata and again today. She got lost for a little bit, but then she was brilliant down the straight."

La Dorada is the ninth Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes winner for Te Akau and is trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson.

“She showed her class today and she’s just so tough,” Walker said. “She’s been up for a while. She’s had quite a long season. But Sam and the team have done a great job keeping her going so well for that long.

“She had that setback with the Sistema, but we didn’t panic. It’s great to see her get a Group One win. She’s a very tough filly and is going to make a lovely three-year-old as well. She’s not very big, but she’s all heart.

“She wasn’t expensive, costing less than $200,000, and you can’t go wrong buying the Waikato Stud product. I think Super Seth is the next big thing in New Zealand.”

Super Seth has now sired three Group One winners, all bought from Karaka. Earlier this month, Feroce (NZ) won the Australian Guineas (1600m) and Linebacker (NZ) landed the Randwick Guineas (1600m).

The tangerine team celebrated a quinella in Saturday's big race, with $1.65m Ready to Run Sale purchase Hostility (I Am Invincible) running second in only his second career start.

“His run was full of merit too,” Walker said. “To have your second run in a Group One race and put in a performance like that, he’s a special horse in the making.”

Vendor	Waikato Stud Ltd
Purchaser	Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau)
Breeding	Super Seth – Gold Fever
Sale	Lot 109, Karaka 2024 Book 1, $190,000
Bred by	Chittick Investments Ltd & Waikato Stud Ltd