Racing: Doubts emerge for Darci Brahma

Darci Brahma will now be heading for a spell. Picture / Race Images

SYDNEY - The autumn campaign of Darci Brahma is over, with his ability to win over 2000m in doubt.

Bred to stay, the Danehill colt trailed the leader on Saturday in the group one A$500,000 ($590,000) Rosehill Guineas in Sydney, looked a great chance at the 300m but was found wanting 100m later, weakening to eighth behind New Zealand-bred winner De Beers.

Waikato trainer Mark Walker said after the race Darci Brahma would go for a spell.

Darci Brahma, who won the group one T J Smith Stakes in Brisbane over 1600m as a 2-year-old last winter, looked a champion in the making when he won the Two Thousand Guineas in Christchurch in the spring.

He was beaten by Kristov in his kick-off run for the autumn but reversed that result in taking out the group one Otaki-Maori Weight-For-Age at Otaki.

Last month in Melbourne, he levelled up to Apache Cat in the Australian Guineas (1600m) but couldn't go past him. It was a creditable second which augured well for his Sydney targets, the Rosehill Guineas, possibly the AJC Derby and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

He could have been forgiven his fourth in the Phar Lap Stakes in Sydney last weekend when he was too far out of his ground in slow track conditions, but there were no excuses at the weekend.

Connections had decided for him to be ridden just off the pace and jockey Michael Walker kicked him up from his wide barrier but he didn't have to work hard and soon had cover behind Corowa and Sumac.

Darci Brahma was out in the open challenging for the lead at the 300m, but then faded under pressure.

It was his first attempt at 2000m and on this effort, it suggest he is best as a miler (1600m).

Both Walkers agreed there was a question mark about his ability to get 2000m.

Said Mark Walker: "You would have to say on that run, it's a bit of a query."

Michael Walker said he was able to slot into a nice position when the leaders slowed up down the back straight, but there were no excuses in the run home.

"He just didn't finish it off as well as I thought he would," he said.

While the run was a disappointment to his legion of fans in New Zealand, managing owner David Ellis refused to be downcast.

"I wasn't disappointed in him at all. I'm very happy with him, he's had a very good campaign," Ellis said.

The colt, whom Ellis purchased for $1.1 million at the National Yearling Sales at Karaka, south Auckland, in 2004, heads for a spell with eight wins from 14 starts and A$865,000 in prizemoney to his credit.

The guineas winner, De Beers, is part-owned by New Zealand bloodstock agent Rob McAnulty and trainer Nigel Tiley and descends from the famous Eight Carat family.

McAnulty bought him for $750,000 at Karaka. Bred by Pencarrow Stud, the colt is out of stakes placed Chimaera, a daughter of multiple group one winner Tristalove.

There was perhaps another reason why Ellis wasn't disappointed. He paid $280,000 for a Fasliyev colt out of Chimaera at Karaka in February.

De Beers is trained by David Hayes, after being with John Hawkes earlier.

He was ridden splendidly by Craig Williams, who kicked him clear at the 300m mark and did enough to hold out the fast-finishing Oh Oklahoma and the unlucky Primus.

"Pedigrees don't lie and he has one of the best here today," said Hayes. "We thought if he travelled the way he did two weeks ago in the Randwick Guineas he'd be in the first three, but I was surprised he won."

Meanwhile, Levin trainer David Haworth declared himself happy with the run of Three Chimneys, who was fifth in the Manion Cup (2400m).

Three Chimneys was well beaten by the New Zealand-owned Fooram, but Haworth said he was on target for the Sydney Cup on April 22.

- NZPA