Trish Dunell
The progeny of the ever consistent The Oaks Stud stallion Darci Brahma have had another quality season.
The son of Danehill will finish second to New Zealand’s all-conquering sire Savabeel in the Centaine Award for global earnings, with his progeny winning in excess of $11 million for the season.
Only Savabeel and successful shuttle stallion Iffraaj will have enjoyed better 2017/18 seasons domestically in New Zealand.
Progeny of Darci Brahma recorded two Group One victories this season, with Hong Kong’s equal top-rated horse D B Pin victorious in the Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) and the Shaune Ritchie-trained Devise taking out the Gr.1 Haunui Farm WFA Group One Classic (1600m).
“It was another really great season,” The Oaks Stud’s General Manager Rick Williams said.
“We are very happy, he’s been a wonderfully consistent horse and probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves.
“D B Pin’s Group One victory in Hong Kong was certainly a highlight this season along with our very own Devise winning a Group One in New Zealand.
“D B Pin was ranked about the seventh equal highest-rated horse in the world after that win. His international rating was actually a point higher than Darci Brahma’s himself at his best.”
Hong Kong Jockey Club
Darci Brahma is once again leading the sires table in Singapore and is on track for a sixth title, while in Hong Kong he was the third leading sire by wins and his three-year-old son Pick Number One was crowned Champion Griffin.
“I don’t know what it is up there (in Asia),” Williams said. “They obviously stable well and cope with the environment.
“But up in Hong Kong he has been huge, to get third up there and have the Champion Griffin has been terrific. That has renewed interest from Hong Kong broodmare owners who are going to send quite a few mares to him this year.
“He’s done great, he’s rising 16-years-old now, so he’s got three or four good years left in him hopefully.”
Purchased as a yearling by Te Akau’s David Ellis at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2004 Premier Sale for $1.1 million, Darci Brahma went on to win five Group One races on his way to being crowned New Zealand Champion Two and Three-year-old, and Champion Sprinter for trainer Mark Walker.
At stud he has amassed a great strike-rate of seventy per cent winners to runners, 6.5 per cent stakes winners to runners and has sired nine individual Group One winners.
Darci Brahma stands at The Oaks Stud near Cambridge where his 2018 service fee will remain at $15,000 + GST. – NZ Racing Desk.
