Successful Sydney Easter Carnival For New Zealand Breeding

New Zealand breeding had a very successful weekend at Randwick over the Easter Carnival scoring the quinella in the $2 million AJC Derby. Starcraft (Soviet Star x Flying Floozie) and Braeloch (Prized x Valley Court) � both New Zealand Bloodstock Sales graduates � ran tremendous races against Australia's finest.

Braeloch had kicked clear into the straight and according to jockey Danny Beasley, the $101-shot, was still going strong past the 200-metre mark. Starcraft, the equal-favourite, was back in the field, as usual, but when he started his run on the home turn he cut in badly slowing his momentum. He overcame this and ran on powerfully out wide to catch the outsider on the line.

Both horses were sold at the 2002 New Zealand Bloodstock National Premier Yearling Sale. Starcraft was a Waikato Stud entry who was bought for $80,000 by the Robert Dawe Agency on behalf of the colts current owner Paul Makin.

Braeloch, who is a half-brother to New Zealand derby winner Hail (Stark South), was sold by Fayette Park for $82,500. Harry Lawton Bloodstock, who has had continuing success with his New Zealand Bloodstock purchases bought the colt.

Earlier in the day Dance Hero (Danzero x Gypsy Dancer) took out the Group I San Miguel AJC Sires' Produce Stakes cementing his position as the leading two-year-old in Australia. The Gai Waterhouse-trained colt is from a New Zealand-bred mare Gypsy Dancer who is from the famous �Belle' family which includes Tristabelle and Lady Belle. Waterhouse said, following the race, that Dance Hero could be the best horse she has ever trained.