The biggest week in Australian racing is here and Proven Thoroughbreds will take centre stage on Derby Day at Flemington with SESAR running in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
SESAR’s owners have been afforded a once in a lifetime opportunity to win one of the most prestigious races on the turf calendar.
The Sebring colt is an $8 chance with most bookmakers after winning the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200) in dominant fashion at Randwick last month.
Should SESAR finish first on Saturday (touch wood!) his owners will be up for much more than the $600,000 in prizemoney as the horse’s stud value would sky rocket into the tens of millions.
But regardless of the result, just having a runner on Derby Day, in front of more than 100,000 spectators is what owning a racehorse is all about. With a bit of luck, mixed with Proven Thoroughbreds’ meticulous scouring of yearling sales, anyone can experience the thrill and excitement this wonderful sport has to offer.
And what about trainer Steve O’Dea? Incredibly, his last four interstate runners have all won, including SESAR’s half-brother DOUBT DEFYING in last Sunday’s Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Amidst the buzz of Derby Day in Melbourne, Proven Thoroughbreds will also be represented by the Joe Pride-trained TAMARACK who will be in search of back-to-back wins when he lines up in the 2400m BM88 Handicap at Rosehill.
On Tuesday morning, the O’Dea stable will have four horses jumping out at Doomben – unraced two-year-olds CONTEMPTUOUS and THE WILD ONE as well as WAS IT WORTH IT and HI ZERO.