First Group 1 Winner for Darci Brahma
19 March 2012
The Pencarrow bred five-time Group 1 winner and sire Darci Brahma achieved a major breakthrough in his stallion career over the weekend with his daughter Artistic providing him with his first Group 1 win in the New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
A winner of the Listed Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie earlier in the season, Artistic (ex Artless) raced consistently throughout New Zealand Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series and showed her Oaks intentions with a classy victory in the Listed Sunline Vase (2100m).
Ridden in the Oaks by jockey Michael Coleman, Artistic was raced near the pace and at the top of the straight shot away by two-lengths and held off a game challenge from Zurella (Zabeel) to win the fillies feature by a nose at the post.
Trainer Shaune Ritchie was delighted with Artistic's first Group 1 win.
"She always looked like she would run the Oaks trip," commented Ritchie. "She had been giving her opposition some big starts in her previous races but she is a game filly."
An Australian campaign is now on the cards for Artistic with Ritchie keen to see how she pulls up before making a decision.
Bred by Peter and Philip Vela, Darci Brahma (Danehill) currently leads New Zealand’s Sires’ Premiership by 3YO Winners with 17, three clear of his nearest rival O’Reilly on 14.
Darci Brahma is also the sire of the smart Singapore performer Super Easy who is unbeaten in seven Singapore starts including the Sgp-2 E.W. Barker Trophy. The three-year-old has been nominated to take on Singapore’s best in the Group 1 Krisflyer Sprint.
Well represented in Australia, Darci Brahma has seen his son Darci Be Good win the Listed Fernhill Handicap at two and the Group 3 Spring Stakes earlier this season. The colt is being aimed at the Group 1 AJC Derby next month on April 14.
A $1.1 million purchase by David Ellis from New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2004 Karaka Premier Sale, Darci Brahma is from the Group 1 winning Zabeel mare Grand Echezeaux and is a three-quarter brother to the dual stakes winning three-year-old Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice). Burgundy is nominated for the Group 3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) next month.
Darci Brahma’s dam Grand Echezeaux foaled a cracking filly by Encosta de Lago in 2011 and is in foal to O’Reilly.