Blackie's Dam a Feature at the Winter Mixed Sale

New Zealand Bloodstock's Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale boasts a promising line up of breeding prospects with a number of stakes winning and stakes producing mares including Diamond Babe, the dam of the up and coming Group 2 winner Blackie.

Hallmark Stud will be offering Diamond Babe (Stravinsky x Guardian Angel by Groom Dancer) at Lot 19 in the Winter Mixed Sale. She has been served by Red Giant and is the dam of only one named foal, the Black Minnaloushe gelding Blackie.

Now trained by Michael Kent at his Cranbourne base in Victoria, Blackie's short career of only six race day starts has yielded four wins for A$130,000 in stakes.

Running fourth in his maiden in Matamata for New Zealand trainer John Sargent, Blackie came back to the track in Rotorua and broke his maiden status, beating the eventual Group 2 Championship Stakes winner Hidden Asset (High Chaparral) in the process.

It was then that the three-year-old colt caught the eye of astute bloodstock agent Phil Cataldo.

"I was in the market for a nice three-year-old at the time," said Michael Kent, "and Phil Cataldo had a few horses of interest and I asked him who he would recommend. He said that he had a nice Black Minnaloushe three-year-old that he was impressed with so I looked at the form and the horse, liked him, so we bought him."

Blackie wins the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes

The purchase turned out to be a successful one for his new connections as Blackie racked up three consecutive victories for the team, culminating in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill.

"His first preparation in Sydney was very successful. He won well first up and at his next start he really fought hard and ran a good winning time, running the last 600 metres in 32.89 seconds, so we were very happy with the way he was progressing with his racing.

"His victory in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes was very good. We had the race earmarked well in advance for him and he beat a strong field of horses that day and really showed that he was right up with the top three-year-olds."

With Blackie now back in training, Kent and connections are looking forward to a big spring with some feature races on the cards.

"He has been back in training for a few weeks now and has come back from a spell in great shape, he has really strengthened up. We are looking at starting his campaign in late August or early September, we haven't decided on a race just yet but there are some attractive options for him.

"There are a number of nice races we are targeting in the spring including the Group 1 Toorak Handicap and the Group 1 Emirates Stakes. We have a very high opinion of the horse and are confident that there is a big spring in front of him."

To view the host of attractive breeding and racing prospects online in the Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale, click here.

New Zealand Bloodstock's Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale will be held at the Karaka sales complex next Friday, August 5 from 1pm. To order a catalogue please contact NZB at reception@nzb.co.nz or call 09 298 0055.