Darci Turns Tide on Seachange

Wellington Racing Club's Group 1 Telegraph Handicap played host to a mighty battle which saw Karaka Sale topper Darci Brahma (Danehill x Grand Echezeaux) turn the tables on talented mare, Seachange (Cape Cross x Just Cruising) as he emerged the one-and-a-half length victor. Recording his fourth Group 1 win, Darci Brahma and top jockey Opie Bosson crossed the line in front of Seachange and Kay's Awake (Towkay x Wake Up Suzie) in the cracking time of 1:07 over the 1200 metres.

The strapping colt was secured for NZ$1,100,000 by David Ellis at the 2004 Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Pencarrow Stud. In his acceptance speech, Ellis pointed out that he is the first sale topper to be crowned a Champion Two-Year-Old and Champion Three-Year-Old.

With Group 1 victories at two, three and four Darci's race record now boasts nine wins and five seconds from 18 starts for prize-money in excess of NZ$1.13 million. Before retiring for the next breeding season, the regally bred horse will attempt to take out Group 1 Waikato Draft Sprint at Te Rapa before looking to an autumn campaign in Australia with the possibility of a journey to the Northern Hemisphere for a tilt at the July Cup.

Four other stakes races complemented the Group 1 feature at Trentham - all were taken out by New Zealand Bloodstock sale graduates.

The Pooka (Tobugg x The Banchee) won the Group 2 Ford Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1200m) for trainer John Wheeler ahead of Roussay (Fusaichi Pegasus x Palia) and El Cuento (Tale of the Cat x Royal Celebrity).

Wheeler purchased The Pooka the 2006 Karaka Select Sale for NZ$35,000 from Rodmor Stud.

Magic Cape (Magic Albert x Cape City) scored an exhilirating last to first victory in the Group 3 Kingdom Residential Wellington Stakes (1600m), beating Figueres (Star Way x Figurante) by a nose.

Magic Cape was purchased by his trainer, Shaune Ritchie at the 2005 Ready to Run Sale for NZ$50,000 from Windsor Park Stud.

Envoy (Personal Escort x Sovereign Command) took out the Group 3 Pure NZ Nobilo Trentham Stakes (2400m) from Kerry O'Reilly (O'Reilly x Pegarah) and Willy Smith (Volksraad x Sound Lear). Trainer Ken Kelso secured the winner of last year's Group 1 Wellington Cup for NZ$20,000 at the 2000 Festival Select Sale.

Sir Slick (Volksraad x Miss Opera) won the Group 3 ZM Anniversary Handicap (1600m) ahead of Fiscal Madness (Volksraad x Belle Nuite) and Pins 'n' Needles (Pins x Raining).

Sir Slick is yet another astute trainer purchase, this time by Te Aroha based Graeme Nicholson at the 2003 Select Colts Sale for NZ$48,000 from Mapperley Stud.