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Ibaraki wins on debut

New Zealand-bred gelding Ibaraki (NZ) (Darci Brahma) made the perfect start to his racing career on Wednesday running away for an impressive victory in the Vinery Stud Plate (1100m) at Canterbury.The son of Darci Brahma had easily won a trial only five days earlier and justified the short odds ($1.50) to come out an impressive 1.69 length winner.Co-trainer Michael Hawkes said the three-year-old has a bright future ahead of him.“He only had the one trial going back a while (ago) but h...

Unbeaten Orbisyn hyped to continue

Boom 3YO gelding Orbisyn (Rich Enuff-Another Syn, by Mukaddamah) is a good chance to maintain his unbeaten record in Race 4 at Doomben today, reports racingqueensland.com.au. "There's a lot of hype about him and deservedly so," trainer David Vandyke said. "He's a bit fragile still and gets a bit anxious so I haven't rushed him. I want to give him more experience and winning is one of them." Orbisyn has won all of his three starts including a last start 6-length thrashing over 1200m on May 1...

Golden Sixty awaits as Sky Darci enhances the Hong Kong Derby form

Sky Darci returns to scale after his Hong Kong Derby win...

Collinstreet provides more good news for Sharrock

Underrated winter galloper Collinstreet (NZ) (Bachelor Duke - pictured) went one better than his trainer expected when he powered to a narrow but convincing victory over 1400m at Trentham on Satuday.The Allan Sharrock-trained six-year old thrives on heavy winter footing and got conditions to suit when the Trentham surface came up a Heavy 10 Sharrock felt he had his charge ready to go a good race but thought he might find fellow Taranaki galloper Rosewood (NZ) (Redwood) too tough to beat over a d...

Sky Darci snares Group 3 Lion Rock Trophy

Caspar Fownes regained the trainers’ championship lead and celebrated the successful race-track return of BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Sky Darci in one fell swoop with a pivotal treble, crowned by G3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap glory (1600m), at Sha Tin on Sunday (30 May). Trailing John Size by two winners entering the meeting, Fownes climbed back to the front – 66-65 – with a three-timer to leave the 2020/21 championship balanced on a knife’s edge with 12 meetings left in the season.Vincent...

Seasonal position available

Seasonal position available The Oaks Stud require a keen person to join our team for the 2021 breeding season (June 2021 to Feb 2022).   This position will involve general stable duties, as well as feeding out, checking paddocks and bringing mares in for the vet and farrier. This is an entry level position that would be ideal for someone who is wanting to learn more about the breeding industry.   On-farm accommodation available. Excellent team environment and competitive sala...

U S Navy Flag to stand at The Oaks Stud in 2021

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Sky Darci satisfies Moreira

Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma) stepped onto the turf at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning for the first time since his BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) triumph in March as he builds towards his much anticipated return in the Gr.3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap (1600m) at the end of this month.Readying for the HK$3.5 million contest on 30 May, the son of Darci Brahma crossed the line third in this morning’s barrier trial behind the unbeaten Winner Method (Deep Field), who clocked 57.61s down the 1000m strai...

Coolmore Star U S Navy Flag to join The Oaks Stud 2021 Roster

The Oaks Stud in Cambridge are proud to present Northern Hemisphere Champion 2YO and European Champion 3YO Sprinter ‘U S NAVY FLAG’ to stand for service this 2021 season. General Manager Rick Williams has welcomed the news of the son of WAR FRONT out of Champion 2YO and 4-time Group 1 winner MISTY FOR ME (by GALILEO) (herself an own sister to champion to 2YO BALLYDOYLE) and a full brother to 3-time Group 1 winner ROLY POLY. A pedigree page that makes for impressive reading. U S NAVY FLAG wi...

Queensland campaign in the offing for exciting Roc de Cambes filly

Joy Alone (Roc de Cambes) could be headed for a Queensland winter campaign. ...

Amazing Star emerges as an improbable ruler in the G2 Sprint Cup

Stunned by an Easter Monday miracle, Jimmy Ting is unlikely to tempt fate twice by aiming blowout G2 Sprint Cup (1200m) winner Amazing Star at the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin on FWD Champions Day on 25 April.Struggling to comprehend the fact Amazing Star – a 178/1 bolter – had temporarily laid waste to 2.8 favourite Wellington’s standing as Hong Kong’s sprint heir apparent, Ting jubilated in one of the jurisdiction’s greatest upsets in a feature race.Easily held in ...

Late burst carries Joy Alone to Classic victory

A thrilling four-way finish to Saturday’s Gr.3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic (2000m) at Awapuni was settled in favour of Cambridge filly Joy Alone, courtesy of a powerful staying performance. The Roc De Cambes three-year-old looked a forlorn hope with 600m to run, with rider Wiremu Pinn taking her wide to make a searching run around the field as the leaders began to wilt on the tricky Slow8 surface. Just as Pinn was winding his mount up for a final charge in the home straight, stablemate D...

Catalyst progressing well for Spring campaign

Star galloper Catalyst may not have a trainer, but he is in great order as his team looks ahead to spring racing. The outstanding three-year-old male of last season hasn’t raced since pulling up lame at Randwick in the Gr.2 The Shorts (1100m) in September, but he has recovered well, according to Rick Williams, who manages the gelding for owner Dick Karreman of The Oaks Stud. “He’s perfect. He’s never had any surgery or anything,” Williams said. “We’ve just x-ray checked him and eve...

Caspar Fownes and Joao Moreira lift the BMW Hong Kong Derby with Sky Darci

An inspired Caspar Fownes’ training performance, crowned by a supreme Joao Moreira ride, has allowed Sky Darci to overcome serious stamina doubts while delivering dramatic BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) success at Sha Tin on Sunday (21 March).The Darci Brahma gelding was plucked from New Zealand as a PPG (Privately Purchased Griffin), joining the Fownes stable as a raw, unraced gelding in 2019. Less than two years later, he is part of Hong Kong racing folklore.Eleven starts after debuting in Hong...

Sinarahma primed for Trentham

Trainer Allan Sharrock will have his fingers-crossed on Saturday when Sinarahma makes her return to Trentham.In her last start at the Upper Hutt track, the daughter of Darci Brahma missed away from the barriers in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) but put in an eye-catching effort to run into second behind Melody Belle.She has since finished fifth in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa last month and was in line for an Auckland test before Sharrock elected to wait until the Gr.3 Wentwood...

Sky Darci set for Derby

Caspar Fownes is optimistic Sky Darci (Darci Brahma) can erase the disappointment of successive luckless runs when he goes for Hong Kong Derby (Listed, 2000m) glory at Sha Tin on Sunday. The winner of three races so far this season, Sky Darci finished sixth in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (Listed, 1600m) before suffering interference when seventh in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (Listed, 1800m). Fownes, who won the Hong Kong Derby with Super Satin (Danehill Dancer) in 2010, is hopeful Sky Darci will f...

Laurie hopes to take Alfa to Adelaide

Promising sprinter Alfa Oro (Bachelor Duke) will get the chance to prove himself as a Group 1 level competitor this autumn with trainer Matt Laurie eyeing a trip to Adelaide.The five-year-old has long been considered a rising star, but is yet to taste success at Group or Listed level.His only attempt in that grade, a fourth in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint, came when he had come to the end of his preparation, Laurie said.Laurie is hoping that will change this preparation with Alfa Oro set to resu...

Sky Darci heads BMW Hong Kong Derby selected runners

Caspar Fownes-trained Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma) heads 14 selected runners for the HK$24 million BMW Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, 21 March.Commanding top-rating for the coveted Classic, Sky Darci will bid to lodge a sixth victory in Hong Kong and, in the process, join the cavalcade of equine stars to have annexed the showpiece staying test.The Hong Kong Derby was first contested in 1873 and is restricted to four-year-olds over 2000 metres. Past winners since 2000...

Auckland Cup likely for Sinarahma

Allan Sharrock will be hoping it’s a case of like mother, like daughter, if Sinarahma lines-up in the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie next month. Sharrock trained Sinarahma’s dam, Shez Sinsational, to win the 2012 edition of the two-mile feature, and he believes her six-year-old daughter has the potential to do the same. The Darci Brahma mare has only been tested up to 2000m, but Sharrock said there are a couple of factors that have influenced his decision. “I hav...

Spring targets for Catalyst

A spring resumption is likely for talented galloper Catalyst. The son of Darci Brahma had two interrupted preparations in Australia last year, with trainer Clayton Chipperfield citing joint issues as the main culprit. Owner Dick Karreman, owner of The Oaks Stud in Cambridge, and his racing manager Rick Williams, have elected to take a cautious approach with him and they have given him time to mature over the last six months. He has spent plenty of time spelling at The Oaks Stud, and he has also ...

Quattro Quinta impressive at Trentham

The runaway leader of the National jockeys’ premiership, Danielle Johnson, notched her 100th winner for the season when she guided Te Akau Racing two-year-old Quattro Quinta to victory in the Listed IRT No.1 Wellesley Stakes (1000m) at Trentham on Saturday. Installed a warm $2 Fixed Odds favourite, the Darci Brahma gelding certainly didn’t have things all his own way as he was attacked by Ansu and Magneto throughout the first 600m of the contest. Asked for a serious effort at the top of the ...

Darci La Bella out to emulate her older brother

Exciting three-year-old Darci La Bella (NZ) (Darci Brahma) showed she has inherited plenty of the family ability when she made a winning debut at Otaki on Monday.The Darci Brahma filly is a half-sister to her trainer Allan Sharrock’s stable star Tavi Mac (NZ) (Tavistock), although Sharrock is quick to point out one major difference.“They are both very talented individuals, but she definitely got the looks in the family,” he said.“Neither of them are that big, but he’s called ...

Sky Darci to the fore at Sha Tin

Caspar Fownes could have the strongest hand of any trainer in January’s Hong Kong Classic Mile as smart four-year-olds Sky Darci and Enrich Delight came to the fore at Sha Tin this afternoon (Sunday, 29 November). Sky Darci made a big statement with victory in the Class 1 Chevalier Cup Handicap (1600m), the day’s feature, and he did so at his first try in the grade following two Class 3 successes over 1200m at the city circuit.“He was held up at a crucial stage of the race when everyone el...

Eleventh Group 1 winner for Darci Brahma

Darci Brahma filly Kahma Lass taking out the NZ 1000 Guineas on Saturday in impressive fashion....

Sky Darci stamps Classic Mile credentials

Sky Darci laid out his credentials for a tilt at the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Mile with a win over 1200m at Happy Valley on Wednesday. “We’ll go to 1400 metres in December then go for the Four-Year-Old Classic Series,” trainer Caspar Fownes said.  The Darci Brahma gelding mustered early from the gates to hold a midfield position under jockey Joao Moreira, before turning for home and switching back to the inside to pull away in style for a tidy two and three-quarter lengths win....