Super debut by Wallace’s Seth filly

A long-time friend of the Chittick family and loyal supporter of Waikato Stud, Gary Wallace enjoyed a proud moment on Sunday, 23 March, as his white and blue silks were carried to victory by Super Seth three-year-old Kia Kaha at Matamata.

Trained by Stephen Marsh, the talented Super Seth filly jumped cleanly, took control of the 1200m contest from the outset, and never looked back crossing the finish line two lengths.

Bred and raced by Wallace, Kia Kaha is out of the high-class Savabeel mare Coldplay, herself a daughter of the O’Reilly mare Forty Two Below – another gem from Wallace’s breeding portfolio.

But this story stretches far beyond the racetrack. Wallace, one of Auckland’s leading real estate agents with Bayleys, has shared a friendship with Garry Chittick spanning more than 30 years.

“I first met Garry when I was in business in Palmerston North with three hours to fill before catching a flight,” Wallace recalled. “A friend of mine said they were going out to see Garry as he’d bought a new horse. I left with two shares in Centaine!”

Their friendship would continue to bear fruit. “I actually tried to buy her (Icy Calm – Coldplay’s gradam) earlier but the offer was turned down,” Wallace remembered. “I didn’t go to the sale, but Garry bought her (at the 1995 NZB Mixed Sale for $62,500), and for less than I originally offered.”

In turn, Wallace repaid the favour in fine style, providing Waikato Stud’s champion stallion O’Reilly with his first stakes winner when Icy Calm produced The Big Chill (O’Reilly). “I keep reminding him of that too,” Wallace joked. “I retained The Big Chill’s full-sister, who was Forty Two Below.”

Now, through Coldplay – herself a dual Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed – that legacy continues. Kia Kaha is her second foal, her half-brother – a Super Seth gelding – sold at the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale for $340,000 to Hong Kong buyers.

Kia Kaha’s win capped a strong week for Super Seth progeny. Just days earlier, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained El Tercero (ex On The Boulevard), bred by Waikato Stud, saluted at Pakenham at his third start.

Super Seth’s star continues to rise. Already the sire of two Group 1 winners in Australia: Feroce, who captured the Gr.1 Australian Guineas after finishing second in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas, and Linebacker, victorious in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas following a narrow runner-up finish in the Gr.1 Champagne Stakes at two, with Super Seth’s early record is turning heads on both sides of the Tasman.

With a strike rate of 8.8% stakes winners to runners, the NZ Champion First Season Sire sits proudly in fifth place on the Australian Second Season Sires’ Premiership, with his progeny having earned A$2,811,895 and counting.