Glamour three-year-old colt, Darci Brahma (Danehill x Grand Echezeaux), was back to his awe-inspiring best after a comfortable victory in New Zealand's Group 1 Otaki Maori Weight-For-Age (1600m) on Saturday.

Ridden by Michael Walker, the Danehill colt stalked the pace-making Kristov (Slavic x Santa Barbra), before proving too strong in the straight, scoring by three-quarters of a length from the gallant Kristov, with Penitentiary (Pentire x Strangeways) a further three and a quarter lengths away in third.

With eight wins and two seconds from 11 starts currently to his credit, the Otaki success was the third Group 1 victory for Darci Brahma who has also placed second at Group 1 level on two occasions. Trainer, Mark Walker, now has him set to tackle the Gr.1 Australian Guineas at Flemington on March 11 before continuing his campaign in Sydney.

The son of Danehill and SAJC Australasian Oaks winner, Grand Echezeaux, fetched a sale topping NZ$1.1 million at the 2004 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale when purchased by David Ellis from the draft of Peter and Philip Vela's Pencarrow Stud.

Darci Brahma's half-brother by boom sire, Stravinsky, recently topped the 2006 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale when purchased for $2.2 million by David Ellis on behalf of a 10-share syndicate, many of whom are shareholders in Darci Brahma.

Darci Brahma's dam, Grand Echezeaux (Zabeel x Richebourg), is currently in foal to Arrowfield Stud stallion, Redoute's Choice.

Placegetters Kristov and Penitentiary were also offered through New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sale. Kristov was passed in at $23,000 at the 2001 Festival Sale, while Penetentiary was purchased for $10,000 by bloodstock agent Paul Willets at the 2002 Festival Sale.

Naturo Claims Matamata Breeders Stakes

The John Sargent trained, Naturo (Postponed x Rubiton's Best) scored an emphatic victory in the Gr.2 Robin, Duke Of Bedford Matamata Breeders Stakes (1200m) for two-year-old fillies on Saturday.

Naturo, winner of her only start prior to Saturday, started a solid second elect behind New Zealand Bloodstock 2YO Classique winner, Italia (Stravinsky x Capote Crossing).

Ridden by Jason Waddell, Naturo settled back in the field, before unleashing a solid finishing burst to deny game filly, Chant (Traditionally x Chantenay), with outsider, Trudy Tee (Chief Bearhart x Ngala) finishing third ahead of the unlucky Italia.

The Group Two victory is a massive boost for first crop sire, Postponed (Summer Squall x Bridal Tea) based at Stoney Bridge at Karaka.

Offered at the 2005 Select Sale through the draft of Seaton Park, Naturo was passed in for $9,000 and syndicated by breeder Andrew McLachlan, who is a traveling groom for New Zealand Bloodstock's Airfreight division.

The syndicate purchased a Don Eduardo half-brother to Naturo at this year's Select Sale, with trainer John Sargent bidding $100,000 for the colt from the draft of Willowbank Stud on behalf of the syndicate.

Runner-up, Chant, was also offered at the 2005 Karaka Select Sale by The Oaks Stud and is the leading performer for another first season sire in Traditionally (Mr Prospector x Personal Ensign).

Joker's Wild Heads Stakes Quinella For Black Minnaloushe

It was a day for the first season sires at Matamata on Saturday, with Windsor Park Stud's young son of Storm Cat, Black Minnaloushe, responsible for the first two runners past the post in the Listed Fairview Ford Stakes (1200m) for two-year old colts and geldings.

The Michael Moroney and Andrew Scott trained, Joker's Wild (Black Minnaloushe x Miss Rory) returned to his best form with a gritty win over Cadre Noir (Black Minnaloushe x Gardd), while honest performer, Habana (Danasinga x Kohinoor) finished third.

Joker's Wild was purchased by Paul Moroney for $40,000 at the 2005 Select Yearling Sale from the draft of Te Mania Thoroughbreds.

Runner up, Cadre Noir made up good ground in what was his debut performance. Trained by Murray Baker, Cadre Noir was purchased by prominent Hong Kong agent, Dominic Li at the 2005 Premier Yearling Sale for $115,000.

Third placegetter, Habana was offered at last year's Select Yearling Sale, with the son of Danasinga passed in for $14,000.

Although Joker's Wild's best performances to date have been on left-handed tracks, the Moroney/Scott runner is likely to line up next in the Gr.1 Ford Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie (right-handed track) on March 11.

Kelly Cullen in Southland Guineas Success

The John and Teria McKay trained Kelly Cullen took out the Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas (1600m) at Invercargill on Saturday, and becomes the first stakes winner for her ill-fated sire, Cullen (Danehill x Princess Tracy).

Previously stakes placed in the Gore Guineas, Kelly Cullen was ridden to victory by Nathan Hanley, with � length to spare from Poulter (Quest For Fame x Peppie), with Borninthestates (Chief Bearhart x Emanation) in third.

Kelly Cullen is a graduate of New Zealand Bloodstock's South Island Sale, conducted in August each year. Purchased by the McKays for $16,000, Kelly Cullen has now had 8 starts for 3 wins and 3 seconds.

Third placegetter, Borninthestates was a $19,000 purchase by Brian Jenkins from New Zealand Bloodstock's Festival Sale in 2004.

Bus Us in Invercargill Gold Cup Romp

The Sally McKay and Ben Gordon trained, Bus Us (Justice Prevails x Broke N' Us) scored a convincing all the way victory in the listed Invercargill Gold Cup (2200m) on Saturday.

The son of Justice Prevails defeated Tri Nations (Anziyan x Three Vibes), with Heapzatow (Towkay x Our Saless) finishing in third.

Heapzatow was purchased by John and Teria McKay at the 2003 New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Sale for just $2,000.

Four-year old Bus Us has now won 5 of 18 starts, with a further 9 placings to his credit.

Grand Campaigner Super Kid Snares Hong Kong Gold Cup

New Zealand Bloodstock graduate, Super Kid (Gaius x Pompeii Pride), scored a narrow victory under the brilliant guidance of Shane Dye, in the Gr.1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin yesterday.

Trained by John Moore, six-year-old Super Kid had a head to spare from a resurgent Bullish Luck and Bowman's Crossing.

Super Kid, a graduate of the 2001 South Island Sale has enjoyed a stellar career since relocating to Hong Kong.  The son of little known stallion, Gaius, Super Kid commenced his racing career in New Zealand under the name of Cheerine Kid, where his most notable victory was in the Gr. 3 Waikato Guineas at Te Rapa as a three-year-old.

Subsequently sold to Hong Kong owner Wong Yuk-kwan, Super Kid has been an outstanding performer, successful in the Gr. 1 (HK) Hong Kong Champions and Chater Cup and the Gr. 1 (HK) Stewards' Cup. Super Kid was named Hong Kong's Champion Stayer in 2004.

Given the perfect trip behind a moderate speed, Super Kid angled into the clear at the top of the straight before fending off the challengers. The victory was the 100th Group 1 success for Kiwi rider, Shane Dye.

The Midas touch that John Moore has employed in the season's most important races shows no sign of abating either as he moved well over HK$20m ahead of his nearest rival in stakes earnings.

Moore inherited Super Kid from trainer John Size during the off-season last year thanks to owner Wong Yuk-kwan's wish to add some Australian black-type to his CV ahead of a prospective stud career in New Zealand.

Super Kid twice ran second in Gr.1 handicaps in Melbourne but was less involved in the Cox Plate and Mackinnon Stakes and then returned to Hong Kong.

The Audemars Piguet QEII Cup on April 23 and the Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup on May 28 are likely to feature prominently on Super Kid's agenda over the coming months.

Fellow New Zealand breds, Russian Pearl (Soviet Star x Velinda) and Best Gift (Bahhare x Shock Attack) were the top fancies in the Group 1 event but were not suited to the slow tempo of the race after settling towards the rear of the field.

Earlier on the Sha Tin card, three-year-old gelding Secret Of Kings (King Of Kings x Secret) scored his first Hong Kong victory in impressive fashion, taking out the Class 3 Yuno When Handicap (1400m) in the hands of Anthony Delpech.

Purchased by Tommy Cheung at the 2004 Ready To Run Sale at Karaka for $80,000 from the draft of Anzac Lodge, Secret Of Kings had three starts in New Zealand for Cambridge trainer, Tim Carter.

The son of King Of Kings initially raced as Shanghai Breezes and scored a commanding victory at Te Aroha last August.