The rise and rise of the Gai Waterhouse trained two-year-old colt Sebring continued on Saturday when he won the Group I Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1400m at Randwick.

There is now one last remaining goal for the unbeaten colt when he takes on the final leg of the juvenile Triple Crown, the $450,000, Group I, Champagne Stakes (1600m) on the final day of the Australian Jockey Club’s Autumn Carnival meeting this coming Saturday.

Elite horses are like elite athletes with everything they do looking effortless, and with time to spare, so it is necessary to look at their compatriots to give a benchmark on their achievements.

Last Saturday Sebring had three major challenges to overcome.

The first was could he back up from the most strenuous of all juvenile races, the Group I AAMI Golden Slipper over 1200m at Rosehill on the previous Saturday? Not only did Sebring win the race from Von Costa De Hero, but he also did this on a heavy track to add to the burden of young bones and joints stretched to the limit aching with lactic acid build-up.

Secondly, would Von Costa De Hero improve on his outstanding run for second in the Slipper after coming from the almost impossible barrier start of 15? The Encosta de Lago colt was last as the field swung for the run to the winning post, and was taken wide by jockey Craig Williams for an unimpeded run, all of which added further distance that the colt had to travel. He was second by a half-head.

Thirdly, several of Sebring’s Sires’ competitors had missed the Slipper and had rested in preparation for Saturday. Fresh legs on a heavy track can be a considerable advantage.

That Sebring answered all three with aplomb is testament to the colt’s character as well as his physical prowess.

Certainly he was aided by a perfect ride by Blake Shinn, but Von Costa De Hero was also given every opportunity by his jockey Craig Williams, and with 225m to run he could not match Sebring.

Samantha Miss, Love And Kisses and Glowlamp came into the race fresh, and finished second, third and fourth respectively. These are all very good fillies, and much more will be seen of them next season, and indeed Samantha Miss might back up in the Champagne Stakes if she pleases trainer Kris Lees.

But Sebring mastered all of these challenges, racing straight and true for Shinn, and betraying no signs of tiredness in his 1L win.

But to give an indication as to how difficult a task he has back at Randwick on Saturday, if Sebring wins the Champagne Stakes this will be the first time the feat of winning the Triple Crown was completed since his former stablemate Dance Hero in 2004. Burst (1992) and Tierce (1991) are the only other horses to have achieved it in the past 20 years.

Plus, waiting in the wings is the formidable combination of Flemington trainer David Hayes and Hong Kong based Darren Beadman with the handsome, Red Ransom colt, All American.

All American was fifth in the Golden Slipper, 3 1/4L from Sebring, but he has won at Randwick when taking out the Group III Skyline Stakes over 1200m back on March 29th.

lus, waiting in the wings is the formidable combination of Flemington trainer David Hayes with the handsome, Red Ransom colt, All American, now racing in the gold and black diamonds of Arrowfield Stud.