New stakes performer for Starcraft

Starkiato has done well for Adelaide trainer Lloyd Kennewell and deservedly became Starcraft’s 26th stakes performer when he ran second to the talented Rhythm To Spare in Saturday’s $150,000 SAJC R.A. Lee S. 1600m G3.

The 5YO gelding (ex Okiato by Flying Spur) has won six races, earned more than $160,000 and now joins stable star Conservatorium on the journey to Brisbane for a Queensland winter campaign.

Earlier this year Kennewell Racing purchased Mill Park’s scopey Starcraft-Bella Cassani filly with the aim of developing her for 3YO classic racing.

Starcraft had two other stakes performers on Saturday, both of them adding to previous efforts in black type company. The John Hyam-trained 4YO mare Stella Lante (ex Villa Lante by Filante) was 3rd in the SAJC Centaurea S. 2006m LR, her fifth stakes placing in a three-season career that has garnered more than $220,000.

Stella Lante’s breeder Tori Park Stud has a weanling colt by Starcraft from Villa Lante.

Paul Messara sent Havana (ex Top Cuban by Anabaa) to Doomben confident of a good run in the BRC Mick Dittman Plate 1110m LR and that’s what the 3YO gelding delivered when he finished second to previous track & distance winner Agitate. Havana is likely to back up in next Saturday’s $125,000 BRC Fred Best Classic G3, also at Doomben.

Havana’s lookalike full brother was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club from Arrowfield’s 2014 Inglis Easter draft for $360,000, but that was only the second-highest price for a Starcraft yearling this year. Mill Park’s filly from Dane Belltar sold to David Redvers for $650,000, the highest price ever paid for a yearling by the sire of dual Group 1 winners Star Witness and We Can Say It Now.

Starcraft stands the 2014 season at a fee of $11,000 inc. GST.