Breeding & Racing Magazine

Darci Brahma Wins NZ Gr1 Telegraph Handicap

In New Zealand, former Coolmore shuttler & ill-fated multiple champion sire Danehill (Danzig-Razyana, by His Majesty) added yet another international Gr1 triumph when multiple Gr1-winning 4YO entire Darci Brahma (Danehill-Grand Echezeaux, by Zabeel) returned from a 3-months spell to finish powerfully from back in the field & score a 1st-up 1.5-lengths victory in the NZ$200,000 Gr1 Telegraph Handicap (1200m) at Trentham in Wellington. Darci Brahma (ridden by Opie Bosson for trainer Mark Walker) defeated triple Gr1-winning 4YO mare Seachange (Cape Cross-Just Cruising, by Broad Reach) & stakes-winning fellow 4YO mare Kay's Awake (Towkay-Wake Up Suzie, by Hereward The Wake). Darci Brahma (a NZ$1.1 million yearling at the NZ Bloodstock 2004 National Yearling Sales at Karaka) headed the NZ 2YO & 3YO Free Handicaps & now has 9 wins (also including Australia's Gr1 T.J.Smith Classic as a 2YO in Brisbane, plus last season's Gr1 NZ 2000 Guineas over 1600m at Riccarton Park & Gr1 Otaki-Maori Weight-For-Age over 1600m at Otaki, as well as the Gr2 Hawke's Bay Guineas over 1400m at Hastings & Gr2 Wellington Thoroughbred Breeders' Guineas over 1500m at Trentham) & 5 placings (including runner-ups in the 2006 Gr1 Waikato Draught Sprint over 1400m at Te Rapa, 2006 Gr1 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes over 1400m at Hastings, 2006 Gr1 Stoney Bridge Stakes over 1600m at Hastings & 2006 Gr1 Australian Guineas over 1600m at Flemington) from 18 starts. Darci Brahma "is expected to stand at The Oaks Stud in Cambridge once he completes his racing career & those stud duties could be taken up as early as next spring," noted NZ Thoroughbred Marketing. "The Oaks Stud owner Dick Karreman has a 10% share in Darci Brahma."