Cesar’s Pride (3 c Starcraft - Shop Girl, by Summer Squall) showed with an impressive win at Ararat on Monday that he is up to winning better races as he is able to step out over further.
Trained at Flemington by Danny O’Brien, Cesar’s Pride never looked in danger of defeat and streaked away in the straight, eventually winning the $12,000 Open Maiden (1600m) by three and a quarter lengths.
Cesar’s Pride cost $140,000 as a yearling at the 2010 NZB Premier Yearling Sale where he was offered by Westbury Stud. He is closely related to the Irish 1000 Guineas winner Al Bahathri.
Starcraft has posted several new winners in recent weeks, High Destiny (3 g Starcraft - Jolly’s Folly) winning his Maiden over 1000m at Ballarat on January 12, the day after Runway Runaway (4 m Starcraft - Pay My Bail) had won the $27,000 ATC All-Ways Crane Handicap (1300m).
Already this month, Starcraft (Soviet Star) has been represented by six winners.
International Group 1 winner Starcraft added a new winner to his record when True Tussock (3 c Starcraft - Arathea, by Barathea) ran out the length and three-quarter winner of the $15,000 Yeoman Rentals Maiden Plate (1200m) at Ballarat on Sunday.
Trained at Sutton Grange by Kevin Newby, True Tussock defeated The Norman (Lion Heart) and Texan Takeover (Stravinsky) in a race that contained several well-bred performers.
Purchased for $80,000 by BC3 Thoroughbreds from the draft of Holbrook Thoroughbreds at the 2010 Inglis Classic Sale, True Tussock had shown ability in two starts for Chris Waller, finishing fourth at Warwick Farm over 1200m on his first start behind Sacred Pins on October 25.
Starcraft is also the sire of Stakes winners Celebrity Girl and Perfect Punch this season and he is well represented at the 2012 Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast and the Inglis Classic Sale.
His Magic Millions draft includes a colt out of the Group winning Danehill mare Rose Of War, being consigned by Turranga Farm. At the Classic Sale Sledmere Stud consign a colt out of the good Perth winner She’s Enchanting.
Last Saturday’s Flemington debut winner Sell In May is being considered for next month’s Karaka Million at Ellerslie a possibility. The daughter of Starcraft got up late for a narrow win over Glimmer and Donna Cattiva in the 1000m sprint and trainer John Sadler is thinking of crossing the Tasman with her.
The Listed Karaka Milllion over 1200m is run on January 29, the eve of the Karaka Premier Yearling Sale
“It’s a possibility, she’s going out for a fortnight’s break or just short of that and there is a chance she will go to New Zealand,” Sadler told AAP.”It’ll be either that or the Blue Diamond Preview, but we would try and measure up how the form looked for the Karaka Million as to whether it was worthwhile.”
Sell In May (2 f Starcraft - Savannah Rain), a $NZ100,000 yearling purchase, picked up $42,700 for her connections with her home track victory which makes her the top qualifier for the Karaka Million ahead of Silver City ($NZ31,750).
The Lloyd Williams-owned Tanby (Galileo), second in the Herbert Power Handicap (Gr 2) at his most recent start, is the $3.50 favourite with TAB Sportsbet for today’s $240,000 Geelong Cup (2400m) ahead of imports Dunaden and Bauer.
Visiting international horses have won three Geelong Cups since 2002, with both Media Puzzle (2002) and last year’s winner Americain landing the Geelong-Melbourne Cups double.
Dunaden (Nicobar) is the top-weight with 58kg and the Mikel Delzangles-trained six-year-old last ran ninth behind Jukebox Jury in the Gr 2 Prix Kergorlay (3000m) at Deauville in France on August 21. Dunaden has a victory over Americain in the Gr 3 Prix Barbeville (2075m) at Longchamp in April this year.
The other feature race at Geelong today is the $100,000 Geelong Classic (2200m) where the Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas-trained Perfect Punch (Starcraft - Tayasu Run, by Tayasu Tsuyoshi) is top-weight with 58kg after three straight wins in Adelaide, the last when winning the Hill-Smith Stakes (Listed) over 1800m.
Date posted October 11, 2011 | Posted by
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Fastnet Rock, Starcraft |
Daughters of Fastnet Rock (Danehill - Piccadilly Circus, by Royal Academy) appear to have Wednesday’s Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) after the Melbourne Racing Club declared a field of 12 for the Caulfield feature.
The unbeaten Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock - Regard, by Zabeel) will be out to record her first stakes win in the $500,000 event. Atlantic Jewel will start the Thousand Guineas from barrier four.
Bookies have Golden Slipper runner-up Mosheen (Fastnet Rock - Sumehra, by Stravinsky) as the only realistic challenger to Atlantic Jewel. Mosheen won the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at his last start to become a clear second favourite in the race.
Caulfield trainer Peter Moody will have two runners in the Thousand Guineas. The Group 1 Flight Stakes runner-up Hallowell Belle (Starcraft - Bella Inez, by Beautiful Crown) and the Group 2 Bill Stutt Stakes second placegetter Cute Emily (Choisir - Prefer An Angel, by Mi Preferido) will represent the all-conquering stable.
Another Starcraft (Soviet Star - Flying Floozie, by Pompeii Court) filly Celebrity Girl (Starcraft - Dashing Granada, by Keltrice) will accompany her Mark Kavanagh-trained stablemate Atlantic Jewel.
Click here for the field for the Group 1 Thousand Guineas.
Date posted September 3, 2011 | Posted by
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SDB, Starcraft |
Arrowfield stallion Starcraft (Soviet Star - Flying Floozie, by Pompeii Court) earned his ninth stakes winner after the Mark Kavanagh-trained Celebrity Girl (Starcraft - Dashing Granada, by Keltrice) easily won the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) at Flemington.
A powerful chestnut just like her sire, Celebrity Girl raced close to the speed throughout the $125,000 race before accelerating like a high-quality filly to post a comfortable 2-1/2 length win to remain unbeaten after two starts.
A $500,000 2010 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase, Celebrity Girl is the most expensive of Starcraft’s progeny to pass through the sales run. Kavanagh will give the daughter of the stakes-winning Dashing Granada (Keltrice - Jovan, by Nassipour) a chance to recover her hefty purchase price in the spring three-year-old fillies’ features.
“At this stage, you could think that may be a little brave (the Thousand Guineas) and she may be too brilliant for that but she does settle as well,” Kavanagh said.
“She’s pretty well above average and we are very pleased with her. It is the right time of the year to have a good filly like this running.
“She’s by Starcraft and she is bred to stay on the mother’s side as well so we are going to head her to the Thousand Guineas.”
Meanwhile, former Blue Gum Farm stalwart Umatilla’s (Miswaki - Dancing Show, by Nijinsky II) outstanding son Sincero (Umatilla - Yours As Always, by Prego) continued to represent his sire with distinction with another win in the Group 3 Tramway Handicap (1400m) at Warwick Farm.
The win was Sincero’s 10th victory and the four-year-old’s third at stakes level.
Paul Makin enjoyed success in England on Tuesday when his homebred Three Sugars (2 f Starcraft - Hoh Dear) won the Toteplacepot Win Without Backing A Winner Maiden at Southwell over six furlongs.
When Starcraft was unable to travel back to Europe from Australia for the 2007 season after injury, Makin covered several mares in Australia to Northern Hemisphere time. Makin purchased Hoh Dear, runner-up in the Cherry Hinton Stakes (G3), in 2005 through Grant Pritchard-Gordon, for 200,000gns. She was purchased carrying to Galileo, the resultant foal Kissing The Camera, a Listed-winner in Europe.
Three Sugars is still owned by Makin and is trained in Newmarket by Jeremy Noseda.
Makin was active at at the recent Arqana Yearling Sale in Deauville spending €600,000 on a Montjeu filly.
Two fillies broke their Maidens at Seymour on Sunday for trainer Peter Moody. The Blue Diamond Stakes (G1) runner-up Hallowell Belle had to fight to hold out locally-trained debutant Zarmorar and Hurriyet was also tough in winning her heat.
Hallowell Belle (3 f Starcraft - Bella Inez, by Beautiful Crown) will only improve for the race according to jockey Luke Nolen. ”She travelled like the winner all the way, although she’s not as effective on the soft track, so she showed a tremendous will to win. She was tenacious and it was to her credit that she really stuck her head out and wanted to win.
A $170,000 purchase from the Three Bridges Thoroughbreds draft at the 2010 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Hallowell Belleis the first foal of Bella Inez, a sister to Caufield Guineas winner In Top Swing.
Hurryet (3 f Redoute’s Choice - Milliyet, by Zabeel) cost $660,000 as a Easter Yearling which is hardly surprising considering she is a sister to multiple G1 winner Samantha Miss. On Sunday she broke her Maiden over 1209 metres and can only get better according to Luke Nolen.
“She’s made progress from her last preparation, but she’s still six months away. Given her pedigree the aim will be to head towards Black Type races and if she got there this time it would be good, but I really think the autumn will be her time.”
Arrowfield Stud sires made a lightning start to the Sydney racing season with the first two winners at Wednesday’s Canterbury meeting.
Arrowfield had a quiet start to 2011/12 with a single win at Tuesday’s Geelong Synthetic surface to show for the first two days of the season before the Hunter Valley operation roared into life on Wednesday.
The Gai Waterhouse stable unveiled a horse it described as a “Guineas horse” when Just The Tonic (Redoute’s Choice - Platonic, by Nassipour) strode to a debut win in the Rosehill Gardens Event Centre Maiden (1200m).
“I liked it when the horse came to him, Nash gave him a slap down the shoulder and he lowered and really found the line,” Waterhouse said.
“It’s a sign of a good horse; we’ve always had a good opinion of him. He could be a Guineas horse.”
Flying Spur (Danehill - Rolls, by Mr Prospector) followed the Redoute’s Choice (Danehill - Shantha’s Choice, by Canny Lad) success with a winner of his own when God Bless Us (Flying Spur - Holy Bounty, by Don’t Say Halo) narrowly claimed the Ascot Club Maiden Handicap (1200m).
The three-year-old filly’s trainer Alan Bailey parted with $250,000 to secure her at the 2010 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
Achievements (Redoute’s Choice - Rubitoff, by Rubiton) completed a double for the champion sire when the four-year-old streeted his rivals in the Aristocrat More Hearts Handicap (1300m) at Eagle Farm. Achievements posted a six-length win, which was the gelding’s second in succession and fifth overall.
Star Topaze (Starcraft - Speedy Topaze, by Woodman) completed a quartet for Arrowfield Stud sires when the mare posted a 1-1/4 length win in the Ron Baum Maiden Plate (1310m) at Balaklava.
Widden Stud yesterday announced two new stallion fee packages for this spring aimed squarely at assisting the serious commercial breeder in what can only be described as a tough economic climate.
“We’ve been listening to our clients and have been looking at ways we can help breeders to get their mares covered by the best possible sires at a price that is affordable and as a result have come up with the following package deals,” said Antony Thompson.
“The Golden Slipper Winners” - Send a mare to our Golden Slipper winners Stratum and Sebring for $65,000+ gst(advertised price for Stratum $55,000 and Sebring $38,500).
“Choose Two for 50k” - Send two mares to either Northern Meteor, Sebring or Star Witness for $50,000 +gst (advertised price Northern Meteor $33,000, Sebring $38,500 and Star Witness $33,000).
Stratum was Champion Australian First Season Sire in 2009/2010 and will also be Champion Second Season Sire for 2010/2011 by earnings, winners and stakes-winners, while the first foals by Sebring and Northern Meteor will be offered as yearlings in 2012.
“Stratum has done all we could have asked of him and is well established now as the best sire of his generation, while the Sebring and Northern Meteor foals have impressed everyone and we look forward with great anticipation to the sales next year,” Thompson said.
Sebring and Northern Meteor are poised for the next stage in their stud careers, while global traveller Star Witness is due back in Australia soon to embark on his first season at stud.
“All of these sires are rock solid commercial options for the breeder seeking to produce a superior athlete and participate at top end yearling sales, so we expect these new packages to generate considerable interest and given the popularity of these sires, there may be a limited number of mares accepted under these terms, so we urge breeders to give us a call,” Thompson added.
“Widden have always maintained a willingness to work with our clients and are ready to discuss other package options with the best deal possible and this could include the likes of Champion 3yo sprinter and dual Group I winner Nicconi, who was the most popular first season sire last year.”
Eliza Park Stud stallions were in fine form in the southern areas of Australia on Sunday after they compiled a trio of winners at the Victorian and Tasmanian meetings.
Bel Esprit (Royal Academy - Bespoken, by Vain) led the way with a winning double. Navillus Superman (Bel Esprit - Sharna Cabarna, by Dolphin Street) finished strongly to claim the TAB Sportsbet $2 Million Bonus Handicap (1000m) at Cranbourne before Cleaver (Bel Esprit - Mill Lady, by Straight Strike) took out the $22,500 Jack Maher Classic (1200m) at Wodonga.
God’s Own (Redoute’s Choice - Angel In Disguise, by Sky Chase) earned a two-year-old success when Father Ned (God’s Own - Ornamented, by Gilded Time) posted his second win in the Oamps Handicap (1220m) at Launceston.
Father Ned is the fifth foal out of Ornamented (Gilded Time - Princess Carrie, by Lightning Orphan) to race; the gelding kept his dam’s perfect breeding record intact with his win earlier in the season.
Bel Esprit will stand for $27,500 for the 2011 breeding season.
Meanwhile, Arrowfield Stud sires produced an international double with wins in Australia and Singapore on Sunday.
The Patinack Farm-owned Renewed Vitality (Redoute’s Choice - Real Pzazz, by Green Desert) completed the local half of Arrowfield’s double with his success in the David Dwyer Bookmaker Maiden Plate (1000m).
Starcraft (Soviet Star - Flying Floozie, by Pompeii Court) three-year-old El Perigo (Starcraft - Patronella, by Mister C) posted his second win in a row in an 1800-metre Class 4 at Kranji.
El Perigo is a half-brother to stakes winners Stella Artois and Smytzer’s Trish (both Geiger Counter - Patronella, by Mister C).
Dual Group 1 winner Star Witness delighted trainer Danny O’Brien with a strong gallop at Newmarket on Tuesday ahead of the $A400,000 Darley July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday.
”That was very pleasing. Steven was really happy with the way Star Witness felt on the course,” O’Brien said after the five-furlong gallop. “Obviously, it is a different course from what we would have at home.”
“The horse did not appear to have any problem taking the dips and rises. He was very strong through the line on his gallop. All in all, very pleasing.”
“Steven commented that Star Witness felt very at home on that course - I am sure there are horses that don’t handle it. It is obviously different when you get under raceday pressure but it was all positive out there this morning.
“An Australian-trained horse has never won the July Cup - a bridge too far for the Australians in the past but naturally it is a challenge and we would like to be the first to win it.
“He is as good as he was on Golden Jubilee Day - he went into the King’s Stand Stakes needing the run - it was part of his preparation for the Jubilee but we were still hoping to win that race. He came out of the King’s Stand Stakes in great order and obviously ran very well on the Saturday without conditions being in his favour.
“He has had three weeks since and really enjoyed the environment here at Newmarket - he certainly has not gone backwards.
“The Darley July Cup is his last run. He is going to Widden Stud. He goes into quarantine straight from the races here on Saturday. He gets on the flight with all the shuttle horses and will start at Widden in September.
“The Darley July Cup will be very competitive - the horse who won the King’s Stand Stakes (Prohibit) was a strong winner, while Society Rock, successful in the Jubilee, ran second the year before. I think the top half a dozen sprinters here are very hard horses to beat. Delegator did not turn up at Ascot and he heads up the market for Saturday’s race.
“There is never a Group One race in a country like England that is going to be easy to win.
“If we can win on Saturday, we will have done a very good job. His places at Royal Ascot have not done his stallion prospects any harm - obviously wins are what matters in that department - we have been close but to get the real enhancement we would have to win.
“Probably of the three races, the July Cup is the most prestigious. If we could walk away with a July Cup win on this horse’s resume then would be a fantastic thing for him to take into his stud career.”
A field of 19 runners, including Australian three-year-old Star Witness (Starcraft - Leone Chiara, by Lion Hunter) remains in contention for Friday’s Group 1 July Cup (6f) at Newmarket in the UK.
The July Cup will be the Danny O’Brien-trained colt’s last race before the chestnut begins stud duties at Widden Stud in New South Wales.
Star Witness has a look at the July Cup course in a workout on Tuesday morning (UK-time). O’Brien said the rising four-year-old has improved since his last-start third in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes (6f) at Royal Ascot on June 18.
“It’s a different course to ours [in Australia] with the dips and rises - ours are mostly flat,” O’Brien told the Racing Post.
“He seems to be as good as he was in the Jubilee, before which the King’s Stand was a prep race.
“In three weeks since he hasn’t gone backwards and this will be his last run before quarantine and going to stud.”
Star Witness could face nine of his Golden Jubilee Stakes rivals, including the runner-up in the Ascot race, the Richard Hannon-trained Monsieur Chevalier (Chevalier - Blue Holly, Blues Traveller). The Aidan O’Brien-trained Zoffany (Dansili - Tyranny, by Machiavellian) could also be among Star Witness’s opposition on Friday.
The three-year-old ran superstar Frankel (Galileo - Kind, by Danehill) to three-quarters of a length in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes (1600m) at Royal Ascot on June 14.
Star Witness (Starcraft) will remain in England for a tilt at the July Cup at Newmarket on July 9 following his two placings in the Golden Jubilee and King’s Stand Stakes at the Royal Ascot meeting last week.
“We did come over here with the intention of running in three races if his form justified it, On his two runs this week, I’d say he has and I’d love to win one. He’s got three weeks until Newmarket, and he’s thrived since he’s been here, so if he keeps going along that plane he’ll be there on July Cup day.” trainer Danny O’Brien said yesterday.
Date posted June 19, 2011 | Posted by
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Starcraft |
Secret Hills (2 c Starcraft - Hill Of Peace, by Danehill) showed he is a two-year-old with a future with a dominant win in yesterday’s 2yo Handicap over 1200 metres at Moonee Valley. Secret Hills was away fast and settled on the lead before being given a breather by Craig Newitt approaching the 600m mark.
Newitt asked Secret Hills to run approaching the home turn and the good looking bay opened up a three-length gap, staying on strongly to the line to score impressively.
Stable foreman Mick Nolan was deputising for trainer Mick Price. “He really stood up to the city grade today, it was a brilliant ride from Froggy. Before the race everyone said there was plenty of pace, but Froggy went out there positive like all good jockeys do. There wasn’t that much pace and then he slowed them up.”
“This is not a bad little horse. He’s still a very immature horse in his head. But he’s been a very tough horse since day one. I think he’s got a fair little future this horse.”
Secret Hills sold for $40,000 as a weanling at the Magic Millions National Sale and then sold for $130,000 as a yearling at the 2010 Melbourne Premier Sale.
Date posted June 15, 2011 | Posted by
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Star Witness finished with a flourish but just came up short in Tuesday’s King’s Stand Stakes (Gr 1) at Royal Ascot, just failing by a rapidly diminishing half a length to catch Prohibit (Oasis Dream). Hong Kong visitor Sweet Sanette (Jallad) finished third having made much of the running with the Hungarian sprinter Overdose fourth in a cosmopolitan finish.
Star Witness was away well but got shuffled back towards the rear in what was a fast run race early. Passing halfway it was Star Witness and Prohibit the only runners capable of challenging the leaders.
Star Witness made relentless progress nearer the stands side but it was Prohibit, coming through close to Sweet Sanette, who had first run and got the verdict. “It was a bit of a messy start and he was further back than he would have liked, but he’s run super.” trainer Danny O’Brien said. “I came here to run him more than once and he’s got the cobwebs out of his system, so I’m not giving up running on Saturday [in the Golden Jubilee] or in the July Cup.”
The prospect of Star Witness lining up in the Golden Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs on Saturday saw his odds cut by English bookmakers. The son of Starcraft is 4-1 (from 7) with Hills, while Victor Chandler make Star Witness 9-2 (from 8).
Champion sire Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) will stand for $137,500 in 2011 after Arrowfield Stud announced its roster and service fees for the nine stallions it will stand. Redoute’s Choice was advertised at $176,000 in 2010 and headed the averages at last weeks Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney.
The reduction in fee for 2011 is a case of ‘meeting of the market’ according to Arrowfield Chairman John Messara.
“These fees have been set after close analysis of the Easter Yearling Sale results, and the prevailing economic conditions. We believe that our 2011 fees accurately reflect market expectations and offer breeders excellent opportunities for profit.
“The strong performance of our proven and emerging stallions – collectively responsible for 43 stakeswinners this season – gives us real confidence in the future.”
Messara confirmed that Hussonet (USA) will stand at Lindsay Park Stud in South Australia this season. As Australia’s leading active sire of Group 1 winners, he presents a significant outcross opportunity for many broodmares.
“Hussonet has been a great success story for us and we are delighted to place him in young, enthusiastic hands for the next phase of his career.” Messara says.
A trans-Tasman Group 3 double for Arrowfield Stud stallion Starcraft (Soviet Star - Flying Floozie, by Pompeii Court) has spearheaded a successful Saturday for the Hunter Valley stud.
The exciting Bart Cummings-trained colt Do You Think (Starcraft - Chickens, by Danehill) started the Rosehill meeting with a comfortable win in the Group 3 T L Baillieu Stakes (1400m). Do You Think took his record to two wins from as many starts with his victory in the $125,000 race.
The Steve McKee-trained Starcheeka (Starcraft - Born A Star, by Canny Lad) completed the stallion’s double with his win in the Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) at Awapuni in New Zealand. The gelding’s win provided Starcraft with his seventh stakes success.
The Chris Waller-trained Syreon (Flying Spur - Sorrento, by Just A Dancer) began a stakes double for the champion Arrowfield stallion Flying Spur (Danehill - Rolls, by Mr Prospector) with his win in the Group 3 Queen’s Cup (2000m) at Rosehill.
Bliss Street (Flying Spur - Jade Diva, by Jade Robbery) became Flying Spur’s 83rd stakes winner with her success in the Group 3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Ascot. The Dan Morton-trained filly led home an Arrowfield Stud quinella with Single Spice (Not A Single Doubt - Zaffron Gal, by Galileo) filling the second placing.
The New Zealand Bloodstock Group 1 1000 Guineas - the third leg of the coveted NZB Filly of the Year Series - has attracted a stellar line up of 15 three-year-old fillies for the feature race at Riccarton, in New Zealand, on Saturday. (more…)
