Genuine Pencarrow Stud bred galloper Stanica Star (Danzero x Stanica) collected the seventh win of his career in the $7,000 Counties Garden Bags Jumpers Highweight 1600m at Pukekohe Park yesterday.

The seven-year-old gelding has been consistent throughout his career winning seven races and placing a further eight times from his 29 starts for trainer Jason Bridgman.

The son of Danzero started as race-favourite despite finishing last at his previous start when he was held up for much of the home straight. He was allotted the top weight of 70.5kgs yesterday however was aided by the 3kg claim of apprentice rider Daniel Miller.

After beginning only fairly, Stanica Star gradually worked around the field to sit outside the leader exiting the back straight. As the field cornered, the gelding took over the lead and fought off the strong challenge of Calgacus (Colombia) to win by a neck with a further 2.5 lengths back to West End (Faltaat) in third.

“He has been a real stalwart of the stable,” commented Bridgman. “He began his career out of our South Island stable, since its closure he has been based up here in the north and has been acquitting himself well. That was his third win for the season, he is just a good honest horse with his share of ability.

“He has got his jumping certificate and has shown promise in that role but at this stage he will be restricted to flat racing then we may look at a hurdle start for him at the end of the season.

“He has been a solid performing horse, he has got a bit of age on him now but is still competitive, and this time in he has won five of his eight public appearances with two trials and three race wins.

“He has had a terrific season so far, as long as we can keep him sound and healthy and find the right races for him I think he has more wins in him.”

David Ellis of Te Akau purchased Stanica Star at the 2008 Karaka Premier Sale for $140,000 from Pencarrow Stud and is raced by Dr Y C Woo, K C & W C Wu.

Bred by Sir Peter Vela and Philip Vela, Stanica Star is out of the Group 1 Avondale Cup placegetter Stanica (Zabeel) who is a daughter of the dual stakes winning imported American mare Pleasureconnection (Danzig) and is related to Game On Dude (Awesome Again), currently rated as the world’s best racehorse.

Stanica is by champion sire Zabeel, the dam sire of 22 Group 1 winners and the leading broodmare sire in Australia and New Zealand last season. Stanica is also the dam of Rhythm to Spare (Pins), a stakes performer in Australia who is set to run this Saturday in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes in Sydney. She was covered last season by boom racehorse and first season sire All Too Hard.