Starcraft pair impress in Sydney & NZ

Starcraft pair impress in Sydney & NZ

March is proving fruitful for leading second season sire Starcraft , with seven winners in the past 18 days, most recently at Canterbury last night and in New Zealand this afternoon.

Pictured: 2YO colt Do You Think wins first-up in city company at Canterbury on Friday evening.

(PHOTO: Sportpix)

2YO colt Do You Think (ex Chickens by Danehill) put up a storming run to win on debut over 1100 metres at Canterbury on Friday evening. Bred by David Moore of Soliloquy Lodge, New Zealand, he was purchased for $NZ360,000 by DGR Thoroughbred Services from the Haunui Farm draft at the 2009 New Zealand Premier Sale. Do You Think is raced by Dato Tan Chin Nam & Tunku Ahmad from the Bart Cummings stable.

Today 3YO gelding Starcheeka (ex Born a Star by Canny Lad) was equally impressive when leading from start to finish over 1600 metres at Trentham to post his third win in 9 starts for owners Peter Walker & Anthony Timpson. Starcheeka was bred by Silvertaire Thoroughbred Racing Pty Ltd.

As it happens, both of these latest two winners are from mares sold in the Starcraft Promotion Draft at the 2007 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Born a Star, from the family of champion filly Triscay and multiple Group 1 winner Defier, made $305,000. Chickens, a stakes-winning relative of Oaks winners Faint Perfume and Danendri, was sold for $510,000.

Starcraft is third on the 2010/11 combined Australian & New Zealand 2nd Season Sires’ list with $1.3 million and four stakeswinners headed by the dual Group 1 winners Star Witness and recently retired filly We Can Say It Now.