© Racing Victoria

The owners of Black Caviar have announced that Sebring has been selected for the champion mare’s second mating.

A winner of the 2008 Golden Slipper, Sebring has emerged as one of the hottest young stallions in Australia through the deeds of his first two crops to race.

Standing at Widden Stud in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley, Sebring was Australia’s leading second season sire by winners and stakes winners in 2013-14 and his progeny have again been to the fore early this racing season.

Among his 20 stakes performers are multiple Group 1 winners Dissident, who has captured the Memsie Stakes and Makybe Diva Stakes in recent weeks in Melbourne, and last season’s ATC Derby-winning colt Criterion.

“The owners have given the selection of stallion for Black Caviar’s second mating much consideration and sought expert opinion and have today decided that Sebring is our choice for this breeding season,” owner Gary Wilkie said.

“Being a son of More Than Ready, Sebring has both confirmation and pedigree on his side and we believe that he will be an excellent match for Black Caviar.

“He was a star on the track winning the Golden Slipper and has shown in his first few seasons at stud that he can produce high quality foals of either sex that can deliver on the racetrack.

“We paid particular attention to the advice of Peter Moody who has had great success with the progeny of Sebring through Dissident, who is already a three-time Group 1 winner, and Bring Me The Maid, who was placed in this year’s Golden Slipper."

Antony Thompson, principal of Widden Stud, said the news of Sebring’s selection was exciting for all involved with the Stud, particularly given that it comes on the day of Sebring’s ninth birthday.

“What a great birthday present for Sebring. He is one of most exciting young stallions in Australia and we’re honoured that he’s been chosen for Australia’s greatest mare, Black Caviar,” Thompson said.

“What Sebring has achieved with just two crops to race is exceptional and we’re confident that his mating with Black Caviar will produce an outstanding foal with the potential for great success on the track."

Black Caviar’s first foal, a bay filly by Exceed And Excel, was born on 12 September 2014 and has delighted her owners with her progress to date.

This article first appeared on the Racing Victoria website and is reproduced here with their kind permission. For more on Off the Track visit http://rv.racing.com/the-horse/off-the-track/news