Darci Brahma Weanlings Well Received
21 May 2009
The top priced New Zealand yearling of 2004 when selling for $1,100,000 to the bid of Te Akau’s David Ellis, Darci Brahma (pictured as a yearling at Karaka) lived up to his price tag and some on the racetrack, winning five Group 1 races across Australasia at age two, three, and four.
He was New Zealand’s Champion 2YO and 3YO, and was also crowned Champion NZ Sprinter of the 2006-07 season, all deeds which held this fine thoroughbred in good stead for his stud career.
Secured to stand at Dick Karreman’s The Oaks Stud in 2007, Darci Brahma has served some of New Zealand’s finest mares over the past two seasons with well earned patronage from New Zealand’s leading stud farms including Pencarrow Stud.
At New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale held on 4 & 5 May, Darci faced the next challenge of his career, appealing to the commercial market in the sales ring, and his first-crop weanlings passed with flying colours, impressing the very best judges.
Darci Brahma topped the first season sire averages having sold four of his progeny, two colts and two fillies, for an average price of $41,813. In fact, the average price of his progeny made him the leading overall sire at the Sale across the weanling, broodmare and mixed bloodstock sessions, ahead of his own champion sire Danehill, and fellow first season sire Perfectly Ready.
Following in his own footsteps, Darci Brahma sired the top lot of the three-day sale in the form of Lot 207, a bay colt out of Valley Court consigned by Esker Lodge. The half-brother to Group 1 NZ Derby winner Hail made $100,000 to the bid of Ballydoyle, a farm owned by Papakura-based couple Tony and Claire Anderson who will look to re-sell the colt at Karaka 2010.
On their pin-hook purchase Claire Anderson commented, "He's a lovely colt with a great attitude already. We were also attracted to his pedigree and expect that Darci Brahma's progeny are going to be popular come yearling sales in January."
Pencarrow Stud will also offer progeny from the first crop of Darci Brahma at Karaka 2010, with stud manager Leon Casey highlighting five outstanding prospects.
Bay Colt (29/10/2008) - Darci Brahma x Kirin Belle, by McGinty
• Kirin Belle is the dam of Winning Belle (Zabeel) who ran second in Makybe Diva’s world record timed Group 1 Australian Cup, after winning the Group 2 Queensland Guineas. She is the dam of three other winners including stakes placed Lady Maroof, and is of course a member of the successful ‘Belle’ family.
Bay Colt (10/10/2008) – Darci Brahma x Battochi, by Success Express
• Battocchi, a winner of four races including the Listed Matriach Stakes and the Listed Ballarat Cup, is the dam of four foals to race for four winners. Her two-year-old Johar filly in training with Mark Walker has shown plenty of ability and Pencarrow look forward to racing her next spring.
Bay Colt (09/10/2008) – Darci Brahma x Silver and Roses, by Sadler’s Wells
• A colt with a stallion’s pedigree, this good prospect is a grandson of Group 1 Kentucky Oaks winner Blush with Pride (Blushing Groom), the grand-dam of recent Group 1 winners Rags to Riches, Jazil, Peeping Fawn, and Thewayyouare across Europe and the USA.
Bay Colt (03/10/2008) – Darci Brahma x Loudenne, by Palace Music
• This colt is a three-quarter brother to Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner and New Zealand Filly of the Year Insouciant (Keeper). His half-brother Copper Mountain (Jetball) is also a Group winner, while his grand-dam is Group 2 Wakeful Stakes winner and Group 1 VRC Oaks placed Our Lafite.
Bay Colt (19/08/2008) – Darci Brahma x Marie Claire, by O’Reilly
• This colt is the third foal of Listed Kelt Memorial winner and Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes placed Marie Claire. Out of Listed winner Trotanoy, Marie Claire is a half-sister to Group 3 Doomben Classic winner Arrabeea (Zabeel), and a half to the dam of this season’s Listed Canberra National Sprint winner Bacchanal Woman (Encosta De Lago).
Karaka’s 2010 Yearling Sale Series runs from 1 – 8 February next year.