Top runs by Star Witness & Elzaam in Golden Jubilee
Arrowfield sires played a strong hand in the finish of yesterday’s six-furlong Royal Ascot Golden Jubilee S. G1, with Star Witness and Elzaam both finishing bravely for 3rd and 4th in the feature sprint of a magnificent week’s racing.
Star Witness ( Starcraft -Leone Chiara by Lion Hunter), who finished second to Prohibit in the King’s Stand S. G1 on Tuesday, went for home two furlongs out, but the final rise and the wet track took their toll, and allowed Society Rock and Monsieur Chevalier swamped him in the final stages.
Pictured: Star Witness after his VRC Ascot Vale S. G1 victory in October 2010. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)
Elzaam was not favoured by the track conditions either, but made a rousing charge to finish only a head behind Star Witness. His trainer Roger Varian said afterwards, “I am really thrilled with how he ran. I thought in the last two furlongs he made up more ground than anything and it shows he can do it at this level.”
Star Witness was bred by Alma Vale Bloodstock, Queensland and purchased for $150,000 by Danny O’Brien at the 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale.
Starcraft himself was the World Champion Older Turf Miler of 2005; achieved a Timeform rating of 128 at 5; and won five Group 1 races in four countries: Australia, New Zealand, France & England.
He is the leading Australasian 2nd Season Sire of Stakeswinners this season, with 7 individual stakeswinners, including dual G1 winners Star Witness & We Can Say It Now, and Australian Group winners Do You Think & Crafty Irna.
Elzaam ( Redoute’s Choice -Mambo In Freeport (USA) by Kingmambo) was bred in Australia to northern time by Kia Ora Stud, NSW, and sold at the 2009 Arqana August Sale in to Shadwell France for ?280,000. The colt was sent by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum to the Michael Jarvis stable and made his first raceday appearance in May 2010 at York where won impressively over six furlongs.
Elzaam then ran a very close second in the 2010 Royal Ascot Coventry S. G2 – beaten by Strong Suit, who also won this year’s Royal Ascot Jersey Stakes G3. Elzaam became Redoute’s Choice’s first stakeswinner in England when he won the Newbury Carnarvon S. LR on 13 May this year.
Elzaam is among 17 stakeswinners by Redoute’s Choice worldwide in 2010/11, a list headed by classic winners Absolutely (ATC Australian Oaks G1) & King’s Rose (CJC NZ 1000 Guineas G1).
