Half Brother to Strategic News at Karaka 2008

With catalogues for the 2008 National Yearling Sales Series due to go in the post next week, Hallmark Stud's 2008 Karaka Premier Sale Lot 344 received a timely boost on Saturday.

The bay colt's four-year-old half-brother Strategic News (Strategic x Sensuous by Grand Lodge) produced a decisive two-and-three-quarter length victory in the Group 1 Steinhoff Summer Cup (2000m) at Turffontein in Johannesburg. Trained by young South African trainer Dylan Cunha he has had 12 starts for four wins and five placings.

Strategic News is the first foal of the Grand Lodge mare, Sensuous, with Lot 344 her third foal. Grand Lodge is the dam-sire of recent successful gallopers Zipping (Danehill), Philario (Captain Rio) and Marching (Commands).

Lot 344 is by Arrowfield Stud's first season sire Charge Forward (Red Ransom x Sydney's Dream by Bletchingly). During his racing career under the guidance of Sydney trainer John O'Shea, he won on four occasions including the Group 1 AJC Galaxy Handicap in his last start. However, his most notable performance came when second to Dance Hero in a record breaking Group 1 Golden Slipper, making him the fastest colt in the race's history.  

With even more appeal to the South African market, Charge Forward's dam, Sydney's Dream, boasts the Group 1 South African Scottsville Allan Robinson Fillies Futurity Stakes amongst her five wins.