Super Seth came from a seemingly impossible position to win a Caulfield Guineas and on Tuesday his younger brother did likewise, albeit in a Benalla maiden.
Rocket Scientist overcame being severely checked on the home turn, when travelling in the second half of the field, to unwind a powerful burst and win the Benalla Grocers Maiden Plate (1406m) by 1-1/2 lengths.
Damien Thornton was aboard the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained gelding and was impressed with the feel he gave at his first start.
"Went bang!" 💥
Rocket Scientist is one smart horse 🤓@FreedmanRacing @_damienthornton pic.twitter.com/SxtnoGWEKY
— Racing.com (@Racing) February 14, 2023
“He got the short back and sides a bit at the 500 there, but he was able to gather himself and balance back up, so he was good,” Thornton said.
Like Super Seth, Rocket Scientist is by Arrowfield Stud stallion Dundeel out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Salutations, is trained by the Freedmans and carries the red and white colours of Jonathan Munz’s Pinecliff Racing.
Munz’s bloodstock agent Dean Hawthorne paid $850,000 for Rocket Scientist at the 2021 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
That was 18 months after Super Seth motored late to run down Alligator Blood in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas.
Super Seth also ran second in a Futurity Stakes and All Aged Stakes, both weight-for-age Group 1 events over 1400m, but never raced beyond 1600m and Thornton will be surprised is Rocket Scientist’s best is not further than that.
“He feels like he’ll stay so I think that’s going to help him a lot,” Thornton said. “He’s not the sharpest of the horses but if he stays he’ll be OK.”
Super Seth is not Salutations’ only Black Type performer with Wild Planet a son of Animal Kingdom who won at Group 2 level and was runner-up in a Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m), while she has a filly by Dundeel who will be offered at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in April.