Darci Brahma Wins on Debut

Million dollar sale topper Darci Brahma (Danehill ex Grand Echezeaux by Zabeel) won impressively on debut at Avondale today.

Exactly one year ago Darci Brahma sold for a sale topping $1.1 million to prominent Waikato thoroughbred investor and Te Akau Breeding and Racing principal David Ellis.

The colt, trained by last season's Champion trainer Mark Walker and ridden by Michael Walker, won by a one and a quarter lengths at the line from Vegas Showgirl (Al Akbar) with a further four lengths back to the third place getter Matamatamamma (Almutawakel). Darci Brahma recorded a slick winning time of 1.09.85. Darci Brahma is raced by a group of prominent New Zealand breeders.

Darci Brahma is by World Champion sire Danehill, who sired 51 stakes winners in 2004 alone, and he is the first foal out of Group I SAJC Australasian Oaks winning Zabeel mare Grand Echezeaux. This is the family of Group III winner Richebourg (Vice Regal), Hong Kong International Cup winner Romanee Conti (Sir Tristram) and four-time Group I winner and Champion race mare Ethereal (Rhythm).

The 2005 New Zealand Bloodstock 79th National Yearling Sale Series Premier Session has twenty yearlings by Danehill catalogued. The Premier Session commenced at 11am this morning and so far two yearlings by the Champion sire have sold, with a filly out of Magical Moment (GB) by Sadler's Wells reaching $600,000.