Crafty Irna 8th Stakes Winner for Starcraft

New Zealand Bloodstock graduates made it a stakes winning double at Australia's feature meeting at Randwick on Saturday, with Crafty Irna winning the last on the card, the Group 3 Patinack Farm ATC Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m).

Trained by Ron Quinton and ridden by Glyn Schofield, Crafty Irna (ex Zirna) is the eighth stakes winner for her sire Starcraft. A NZB graduate himself, Starcraft's progeny are on fire on the track, notching up two stakes winners last weekend in Australia and New Zealand.

Backed by her trainer Ron Quinton, Crafty Irna came into Saturday's race after running fifth to Raspberries at Warwick Farm late last month. But she proved well up to the task, and looked comfortable in the straight as she held off some strong finishing challenges to win by just under a length.

The win was Crafty Irna's second from nine starts and took her stakes earnings to over A$100,000. Offered by Westbury Stud at the 2009 Karaka Premier Sale, the filly was bought by NZB as agent for $125,000.

Crafty Irna is the third foal of the top international racemare and 2003/4 Singapore Horse of the Year and Stayer of the Year, Zirna (Deputy Governor x Riverly Lass). A half-sister to Crafty Irna by Redoute's Choice was bought by NZB as agent at this year's Karaka Premier Sale from Westbury Stud for $400,000.