Half-Brother to Statham at Karaka 2016

Adding black to his pedigree was the ever consistent sprinter Statham (NZ) (Danroad) in the Group 3 $70,000 Stella Artois Concorde Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday.

Statham (NZ) triumphant in the Group 3 Stella Artois Concorde Handicap. Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell.

Statham has a half-brother by Reliable Man entered in the 2016 Karaka Select Sale at Lot 467 from Highview.

Saturday’s triumph was Statham’s first at stakes level following being runner-up last start at Avondale in the Listed Counties Bowl Handicap. The son of Danroad contested the Group 3 Concorde Handicap in 2013 before having his first tilt at a Group 1 race in the Telegraph Handicap for trainers Scott Lucock and Sally Gillespie.

“It was great to get a stakes win with him,” commented co-trainer Sally Gillespie. “Particularly since he has a half-brother in the up-coming sale, Simon (Rusbridge) was very pleased.

“The race came off 100% as we hoped it would. The plan was to follow the leader, we just didn’t think Fast Dragon would be the leader.”

Ridden by apprentice rider Chris Dell, Statham went forward to track the leader Fast Dragon (NZ) (Fastnet Rock) in the early stages. Unable to get a run on the rail down the home straight, Dell angled Statham out to race one off the fence and sprinted to victory by half-a-length over Irish Moon (NZ) (O’Reilly), who ranged up for second place, with Ryan Mark (NZ) (Thorn Park) in third.

“He holds two nominations, the Telegraph and the Railway Stakes, and as long as everything stays on track that is where he will be heading,” added Gillespie.

The Group 1 Sistema Railway Stakes takes place on 1 January at Ellerslie Racecourse and the Group 1 JR&N Berkett Telegraph runs on 16 January at Trentham.

Winning six races from 23 starts, the six year-old gelding has won $125,475 in prizemoney for owners LJ Cameron, GP Stewart, MF Wills and breeder Simon Rusbridge.

The son of Danroad is out of Polyana (Pyrus), a half-sister to the dam of Group 1 winner The Pooka (Tobougg), winner of the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas. Statham is also from the same family as Group 1 winner Guiseppina (Johar), winner of the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap.

New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales Series take place on 25 January – 31 January. The Premier, Select and Festival catalogues are available online now or can be requested from www.reception@nzb.co.nz.