Australian Horse of the Year Dissident went very close to siring his first stakes-winner at Riccarton in New Zealand on Saturday when talented colt Challa was beaten a head in the Listed Welcome Stakes.
Trained by Jamie Richards and sporting the famous tangerine and royal blue colours of Te Akau Racing, Challa was second at his first two starts and frustratingly made it three seconds in a row when just missing the win behind promising filly Miss Federer.
A $100,000 NZB Book One purchase for Te Akau Racing from the Trelawney Stud draft, Challa looks to have a very bright future and is the first foal of Are There Any, a smart winning daughter of Exceed and Excel from stakes-winner Honest Politician.
From just three starters, Dissident has had two second place-getters so a winner cannot be far away for the champion son of Sebring.
Dissident stands at Newgate at a fee of $33,000 and has 26 entries for the 2019 Magic Millions.
