Third Group 1 winner for Seth with Super win by La Dorada

With Trentham hosting the final Group 1 for the 2024/25 New Zealand season, the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), it was a hot field of two-year-olds lining up.

But it was Karaka Millions 2YO winner La Dorada (Super Seth ex Gold Fever) who put three-and-a-half lengths on the field to come away with a maiden Group 1 win – giving her sire Super Seth his third Group 1 winner of the season and recording elite-level winners in both of his first two racing crops.

La Dorada was a $190,000 purchase from Waikato Stud’s draft at Karaka in 2024, bought by David Ellis CNZM, and races in the tangerine colours of Te Akau.

From five starts, La Dorada has posted four wins, including the R. Listed 2025 TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) in January, the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Ltd Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) in February, and the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in March.

“She’s just so tough. You know, she’s been up a while and had quite a long season,” said co-trainer Mark Walker following the race.

“Sam, the whole team, have done a great job keeping her up for so long.”

“It’s great for her to get a Group 1. She’s a very tough filly and she’s going to make a lovely three-year-old as well.”

Guided by jockey Michael McNab, who also partnered her to victory in the Group 2 event, he said: “She’s a star, an absolute star. There’s not much of her, great ability and great heart and just a great will to win.”

La Dorada was David Ellis’ eighth winner of the race.

She is out of the Savabeel mare Gold Fever, winner of the G2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes and placed in the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes. Her half-sister, Gold Rocks, also triumphed in the Breeders’ Stakes. La Dorada’s half-brother, by Tivaci, was purchased at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from Waikato Stud’s draft for A$160,000 by YLP Racing – another name Yulong trade under.

La Dorada’s win gave Super Seth a Waikato Stud-bred double on the Trentham race card, with Super Photon (ex Chandelier) returning from his spring three-year-old campaign with an impressive win first-up, following a two-year-old season in which he claimed the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1400m) at his second start.

La Dorada now joins Group 1 winners Feroce, winner of the Australian Guineas (1600m) on 1 March at Flemington – Super Seth’s first Group 1 winner – trained by young horseman Dom Sutton and bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds.

Seven days later, Linebacker – bred by Jonathan Munz of GSA Bloodstock – took out the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on 8 March at Royal Randwick for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, giving the training partnership their first elite-level win together, and Tom his first taste of Group 1 success. For long-time racehorse owner Ron Finemore, Linebacker was also his first Group 1 winner as an owner after 50 years in the game.