WS-bred Rough Habit win confirms Derby target

Waikato Stud-bred Kilman (Super Seth ex Thy) delivered another significant result for the Matamata nursery on Saturday, producing a courageous front-running performance to capture the A$250,000 Gr.3 HKJC World Pool Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben.

Prepared by champion trainer Chris Waller, the son of former Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth became Waller’s fourth consecutive winner of the feature Queensland Derby lead-up.

Raced by great supporters of Waikato Stud in Neville Morgan and David Devine, whose colours have been carried by a number of elite performers, including fellow Ocean Park‘s A$4.4 million earner Kovalica, Kilman showed grit and determination to return to the winner’s stall in style.

Offered by Waikato Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Kilman was secured by Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock for A$360,000 and has now amassed more than A$262,000 in prizemoney.

The three-year-old is out of Listed winner Thy (O’Reilly), who finished fourth in the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m). The Super Seth ex O’Reilly cross has proved its potency having already produced a Group 1 winner in Feroce.

Thy has now produced three winners from five foals to race and is also the granddam of talented Hong Kong performer and Waikato Stud-bred Patch Of Cosmo (Super Seth ex Thee), who placed in both the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and Hong Kong Derby (2000m).

Her latest youngster to head through the sales ring was a colt by Waikato Stud’s exciting young sire Noverre, purchased by Moody Racing for $200,000 during Book 1 of the 2026 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale.

Kilman’s Saturday success was richly deserved after a series of strong performances in stakes company this preparation, including placings behind some of Australia’s better three-year-olds in both the Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) and Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m).

From the outside gate in the field of 16, jockey Ryan Maloney took luck out of the equation early, allowing Kilman to stride forward and dictate terms comfortably throughout.

“He’ll definitely relax well enough to get the 2400m of the Derby (at Eagle Farm on May 30). He switched off beautifully for me today. He conserved his energy really well.”

“He’s made a lot of physical progression,” Waller said. “He ran well in the Carbine Club and Queensland Guineas, and he was excellent again today under a very good ride by Ryan.”