Segenhoe’s Derby Day mares
As we head into arguably the best Saturday of racing in Australasia – Group One VRC Derby Day – it is a great time to briefly reflect, as two of Segenhoe Stud’s outstanding mares – Hurtle Myrtle and Sister Madly both claimed stakes victories on that day in 2011.
With both of these mares producing their first foals this season, it is amazing to think that just two short years ago, they were both primed for the races of their lives, with both achieving success.
While not yet in the ownership of Segenhoe Stud at the time of her race, Hurtle Myrtle headed into the Group One Myer Classic as the winner of the Group Two Dane Ripper in Brisbane a few starts prior and went into the race as a 16/1 chance behind the short-priced favourite More Joyous.
Settling back in the field, Damien Oliver bought the mare down the outside of the field to score a classy length-and-a-quarter victory over Sacred Choice (watch below), who would later go on to claim the Group One Doncaster Handicap at Royal Randwick.
A matter of months later Hurtle Myrtle went through the Magic Millions Broodmares Sale where Segenhoe Stud parted with $1million to secure the mare. Racing on for only a for a few more starts, the Dane Shadow mare never really recaptured her form and the decision was made to retire her for the next phase of career.
Covered by Vinery Stud’s Champion Sire More Than Ready during her first season at stud, Hurtle Myrtle produced a filly (pictured below) at 12:55 on October 3.
The very next race after Hurtle Myrtle’s victory in the Myer Classic, the Segenhoe Stud-owned Redoute’s Choice mare Sister Madly recorded victory in the Group Two Salinger Stakes, defeating Rarefied and Temple Of Boom.
Having finished a runner-up to Sepoy in the Group One Manikato Stakes two starts prior before then finishing second, this time behind More Joyous at Group Two level, Sister Madly, the half-sister to World Champion Sprinter Silent Witness was sent out as the race favourite.
Duly saluting for her connections, it was unfortunately the last race start the mare would have, retiring to stud the following breeding season where she was sent to visit her Manikato Stakes vanquisher Sepoy.
Producing this cracking colt (below) on September 29 at 10:53pm, the decision was made to send the mare back to Darley again this season, but for an encounter with Street Cry, this sire of this year’s Group One Caulfield Guineas winner Long John.
