Record-setting new stakeswinner for Starcraft
Strapping 3YO filly We Can Say it Now today became the third Australasian stakeswinner by Arrowfield’s exciting 2nd season sire Starcraft with a record-setting victory in the Waikato RC James & Annie Sarten Memorial S. 1400m LR at Te Rapa, Hamilton. On a good track she produced a strong finish from midfield, winning in race record time of 1.21.54 by 1.75 lengths from Charma with the same distance back to Blinding in third place.
In its five-year history as a Listed Stakes event, the race has been an excellent guide to future Group One form. Last year’s winner Katie Lee went on to complete the CJC New Zealand 1000 & 2000 Guineas G1 double; the 2007 winner Lovetrista ran third in the 1000 Guineas, while the runner-up Keepa Cruisin subsequently won the Levin Classic G1; and the 2006 winner Imananabaa won the ARC Railway H. G1 at four.
We Can Say it Now (ex We Can’t Say That by Generous) has now won two of her four starts for her trainers Murray & Bjorn Baker and owner-breeders, Paul & Lyndall Makin’s Paulyn Investments Pty Ltd. The Makins also raced Starcraft, Australia’s Champion 3YO of 2004 and a five-time Group One winner in four countries. We Can Say it Now is inbred 3 x 3 to the fine New Zealand sire Pompeii Court, through her second dam Courtalista, and Starcraft’s dam Flying Floozie.
Starcraft is also the sire of last season’s Australian co-Champion 2YO colt Star Witness (MRC Blue Diamond S. G1, VRC Talindert S. LR, 3rd MRC Vain S. LR), Singapore Sling (ARC Soliloquy S. LR) and three other stakes performers, Ace Acosta, Hallowell Belle and Mr Spock, among 13 winners and 41 runners from his first two Australian crops.
Starcraft stands at Arrowfield this season at a fee of $38,500 (inc. GST).
