Sensational Starcraft

New Zealand Bloodstock graduate, Starcraft (Soviet Star x Flying Floozie) has produced another magnificent result with his fifth Group 1 victory against his toughest rivals yet. On the back of an overwhelming victory in France in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin (1600m), Starcraft trounced Europe's star milers Dubawi and last year's winner, Rakti, to take out the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1600m) at Newmarket on Saturday.

Before Saturday's race, trainer Luca Cumani knew this field would be a big test of the five year old's class, but racegoers were left in no doubt about the New Zealand bred's talent. The big chestnut now has an incredible five Group 1 wins and five Group 1 placings to his credit. Starcraft looks likely to take on another country's champions with owner Paul Makin keen for a United States sojourn with an eye on the Group 1 Breeders' Cup.

Bred by Waikato Stud, Starcraft was purchased at the 2002 Karaka Premier Sale by New Zealand bloodstock agent, Robt Dawe, for the bargain price of NZ$80,000. His dam, Flying Floozie, was awarded Broodmare of the Year at New Zealand's annual Mercedes Thoroughbred Racing Awards, with Waikato Stud awarded Breeder of the Year.

To top off an unforgettable day for Paul Makin, his Paulyn Syndicate had a winner at Mornington with another Karaka graduate, We Can't Say That (Generous x Courtalista). Winner of the R M Ansett Classic (2000m), the Lee Freedman-trained, We Can't Say That, was purchased at the 2002 Karaka Premier Sale for $75,000 by Robt Dawe.

The current recordholder at Mornington over this distance is New Zealand bred mare, Palos Verdes, dam of the Listed winner on Friday night at Moonee Valley, El Segundo (Pins x Palos Verdes). A strong field contested the Listed Toyota AFL JRA Cup (2040m), but the Melbourne Cup hopeful trained by Colin Little held on for his fifth win from nine starts. Bred by Ancroft Stud, El Segundo was bought as a yearling by Michael Stedman for NZ$140,000 from Karaka.

At Randwick on Saturday, promising stayer Railings (Zabeel x La Suffragette) won the Group 3 Maytag Colin Stephen Quality Handicap (2400m) for trainer, John Hawkes. Bred by Haunui Farm, Railings was purchased at the 2003 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale for $300,000 by New Zealand trainer, Roger James. Railings beat Run Rita Run (Runyon x Our Rita) in second and Karaka graduate Cross Bar (Cape Cross x Lady Leica) in third to secure his fifth career win from 11 starts. Cross Bar was purchased by Gai Waterhouse from Cambridge Stud for NZ$110,000.

At home, the first race in the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series, the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton on Saturday, was taken out by the Te Akau team. Shikoba ( Chief Bearheart x Summary), trained by Mark Walker and ridden by the on-form Michael Walker, produced a decisive win over Mystical (Montjeu x Seamist) and Smitten Kitten (Volksraad x Vanderbilt).

Mystical attains three points for her second placing. Shikoba has the lead with seven points and Smitten Kitten now has one point. The next race in the Series is Otago Racing Club's Listed $30,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes on the 26 March.

The Walker stable enjoyed double black type victory over the weekend, also winning Taranaki Racing Club's Listed Mason Appliances 4YO Stakes (1400m) with Arlingtonboulevard (Spinning World x Golden Bridge). 2003 Select Sale graduates Mikki Street (Cape Cross x Ocean Pearl) and Rosetti Bay (Pins x Crown Rose) took home the minor placings.

Hong Kong

New Zealand Bloodstock graduates recorded two wins at Sha Tin on Saturday.

Race 8 saw Towkay gelding, Lotzatow, notch up his second consecutive win for owners Lau Wai Kin and Dr Ip Yan Ming and trainer, Manfred Man. A previous stakeswinner in New Zealand, the four year old was sold as a yearling at Karaka for NZ$7,000.

The last race on the card saw a New Zealand bred quinella top off the day's proceedings. New Zealand resident sire O'Reilly was responsible for both with Circuit Kingdom (O'Reilly x Hikutaia Special) winning ahead of Time Supreme (O'Reilly x Brilliant Victory) in second place. Time Supreme is a graduate of New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale where he was purchased by Michael Stedman for NZ$105,000.

Singapore

Kranji racecourse also saw a New Zealand bred quinella in the feature race of the day on Friday. The Kranji Stakes C (1200m) was won by Gold Strike (Straight Strike x Celestar) two lengths ahead of Sharp Spur (Classic Fame x The Country's Best) in second. Gold Strike was offered for Sale at New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale in 2001.