FIRST STARTER STARS FOR STARCRAFT
14/05/09

The first runner from Starcraft?s (NZ) sole Northern hemisphere crop won her racetrack debut overnight. Don?t Tell Mary (ex Only in Dreams, by Polar Falcon) made easy work of her opposition in the 2YO 5 furlong Bath Maiden, winning by 3.25 lengths with a further 2.25 lengths back to third.

The Racing Post reports: ?Toga Tiger was all the rage after his very promising debut over the same course and distance, but he has bumped into a decent filly here in Don?t Tell Mary.?

?Despite displaying distinct signs of greenness early in the contest, she travelled with real zest close to the pace before showing a smart turn of foot to quicken clear over a furlong out and win in pretty taking style. A half-sister to juvenile winner Exceptional Art, she took the eye as a nice type in the paddock and an entry in the big juvenile sales race at Ascot later in the season suggest connections think a bit of her.?

Starcraft (NZ) was a Champion in both Hemispheres. The 2004 Champion 3YO of Australia went on to be crowned the 2005 World Champion Older Turf Miler and won five Group 1s in four countries.

Starcraft made his stud debut in the Northern Hemisphere at Cheveley Park Stud in 2006 where he covered 106 mares.

In Australia, Starcraft covered 151 mares in his first year at stud. They constituted some of the finest racemares and proven stakes producers ever availed to a first season sire. 11 were Group 1 winners or the dams of Group 1 winners and included Private Steer, Elevenses, Episode, Macedon Lady and Dowry. Starcraft?s second book consisted of 129 mares including the Group 1 winners Belle Bizarre, Episode, and One Under (NZ). Mares in foal to Starcraft (NZ) have sold up to $1.4 million

The stallion?s first yearlings were offered for sale in 2009 and sold at an average of $104,903 - 56 sold (off a $33,000 service fee) - and a top price of $450,000.

In recent years, Starcraft?s sire line has enjoyed considerable success in Australasia through such stallions as Stravinsky, Spinning World and perennial leading sire Zabeel whose dam is by Nureyev. These stallions, amongst other representatives of the Nureyev sireline, have shown a distinct affinity for certain bloodlines, specifically those of Damascus, Relic and some strains of the Northern Dancer sire line.


Starcraft (NZ) stands the 2009 season at Arrowfield Stud at a fee of $22,000 (incl. GST)

(Reproduced from Arrowfield Stud Press Release 14/05/09)