Waikato Stud's Garry Chittick was yesterday celebrating a momentous New Zealand-breeding industry success after Starcraft scored his first European group one win in France.
Ridden by Christophe Lemaire, the Luca Camani-trained Starcraft took on the uncustomary role of pacemaker in the Prix du Moulin (1600m) at Longchamp after the leaders
dawdled up front early.
From there Paul Makin's chestnut, who won the group one Mudgway Stakes and group two Stoney Bridge Stakes at Hastings last season, kicked clear to score by 2 1/2 lengths.
Chittick yesterday described the victory as "fantastic for New Zealand racing".
"It's great," Chittick said. "We don't get too carried away with anything - it's not our style - but it's great not just from a Waikato Stud point of view but also for New Zealand racing and breeding.
"It really puts us on the map. I congratulate Paul Makin, we know he cops a fair bit of flak, but he's had the confidence to campaign the horse up there for a long time.
"I gather he's now looking at racing the horse in America. We're lucky to have an owner who has had the vision to go. He's created an international commodity. It's very exciting."
Waikato Stud sold Starcraft's dam, dual broodmare of the year Flying Floozie, to Australia last year, but the Matamata breeders have retained several of her progeny and family.
"I've long maintained that a horse is a horse wherever you go. The best horses from anywhere will compete anywhere," Chittick said.
"Alinghi winning in the US last week, Elvstroem winning in Dubai this year and now what this horse has done in France - we don't have to feel overawed by any of the Northern Hemisphere form.
"This horse is quite clearly up to the best in the world."
* Rumplestiltskin became Aidan O'Brien's fourth winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes at The Curragh in Ireland on Sunday, the filly scoring for rider Kieren Fallon.
In Germany, Warrsan won the group one Grosser Preis von Baden, the seven-year-old making it back-to-back wins.
- NZPA
