3 minute read

Interest is growing in the 21 yearlings by Starcraft to be offered at the upcoming Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale thanks to the form of a trio of smart fillies from his 2010 crop.

They include Leia (Starcraft x Gibraltar Campion by Rock of Gibraltar), who recorded her second win in four starts from the Leon Corstens stable at Bendigo.

Purchased by Spicer Thoroughbreds for $220,000 from the Arrowfield draft at the 2012 Inglis Easter Sale, Leia’s spring campaign was derailed by a virus.

Her full sister is Lot 280 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.

“She’s a lovely type, a fluent mover with great balance,” Arrowfield’s Sam Fairgray said.

In New Zealand Astardia (Starcraft x Ransom Claim by Red Ransom) was an impressive maiden winner over 1600 metres at Pukekohe.

Astardia, a grand-daughter of 2YO stakeswinner and Golden Slipper placegetter Loving Cup, was purchased by trainer Murray Baker for $65,000 from the Wellfield Lodge draft at the 2012 New Zealand Premier Sale.

She is raced by long-time Baker stable client John Rattray, who also raced G2 winner Fatal and G1 winner Dowry, now an Arrowfield broodmare, in partnership with Alastair Lawrence and Dave Mitchell.

“She’s a very nicely put together filly with a beautiful temperament,” Rattray said. “I liked the way she flattened out over the last 100 metres.”

She is likely to race in the G3 Lowland Stakes at Hastings on March 1 or the G3 Sunline Vase at Ellerslie on March 5.

The Baker stable has good experience with the Starcraft breed after preparing his daughter We Can Say It Now to win twice at G1 level.

At Seymour Choose (Starcraft x Choices Are by Redoute’s Choice) turned in a determined effort to win comfortably on debut.

Choose was an $80,000 buy for trainers Lee and Shannon Hope from the 2012 New Zealand Ready to Run Sale and is from a three-quarter sister to G3 winner and Blue Diamond runner-up Shaaheq.

The Melbourne Premier catalogue includes two colts bred on the Starcraft/Redoute’s Choice cross - Lot 46, from Any Other Day and Lot 254, from Fair Choice.