Darci Brahma (NZ) (Danehill) has morphed into an unsung stallion hero following a decorated racing career.
He’s a rare individual as a top priced yearling, who became a class racehorse. The Pencarrow Stud graduate topped the 2004 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka when he was knocked down to Te Akau chief David Ellis for NZ$1.1 million, and then went on to justify it on the track.
Trained by Mark Walker, Darci Brahma won the G1 TJ Smith Classic at Eagle Farm as a 2-year-old, the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and beat the older horses in the G1 Otaki-Maori WFA S. the following season.
At four, he added the G1 Telegraph H. and the G1 Waikato Draught Sprint to his CV before he took up residency at The Oaks Stud in Cambridge.
“He was the highest-priced yearling of his year and went on to become a top-rated racehorse and that’s unusual, it doesn’t happen very often.” - General Manager Rick Williams.
“The facts are all out there. He’s 16 now and his progeny have done all the talking and we shouldn’t have to advertise him.
“I can’t work out why he’s not more popular. We see the sires’ lists out weekly and when you see the number of runners some stallions have in Australia you have to balance it up.
“He should be standing at NZ$40,000, but we can’t fill him up at NZ$15,000.” – Rick Williams.
“He’s also done it with a syndicate that don’t have as many mares as some and The Oaks has bred most of his good horses.
“Darci has been, and still is, a great stallion. He has been thoroughly consistent throughout and he’s flying at the moment.”
Quality strike rates
A son of the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Grand Echezeaux (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Darci Brahma has sired 406 winners in eight countries with a 71.5 per cent winners to runners strike rate and 6.5 per cent stakes winners to runners.
“That is very respectable, he’s been fantastic,” Williams said. “In Singapore he’s been huge and in New Zealand even though there’s no money here. He’s done it in Hong Kong, but he’s not liked in Australia even though he’s had an Oaks winner.
“People forget that he also sired the last horse to beat Winx.” - Rick Williams
His daughter Gust Of Wind (NZ) inflicted defeat on the champion mare when she got the better of her in the 2015 G1 Australian Oaks at Randwick.
Double figures beckon
Darci Brahma has sired nine individual Group 1 winners and Williams won’t be surprised if that tally hits double figures in the near future.
“D B Pin was second in Hong Kong the other night behind Mr Stunning and he’ll be spot on for the race at Yearling Sale time in January (the G1 Centenary Cup Sprint), which he won earlier this year,” Williams said.
Recite (NZ), Nashville (NZ) and Julinsky Prince have all been dual Group 1 winners for Darci Brahma and are joined on the stallion’s top-flight honours board by Risqué (NZ), Artistic (NZ), Irish Fling (NZ) and Devise (NZ).
Tops in Singapore
Darci Brahma, whose progeny has won nearly $48.5 million, ended 2018 as Singapore’s Champion stallion once again. He has won six of the last seven General Sires’ premierships there.
He finished third last season on the New Zealand list behind Savabeel (Zabeel {NZ}) and Iffraaj(Zafonic {GB}), and is currently second, and in the top 10 in Hong Kong.
“Savabeel covers bigger numbers and better mares, but don’t get me wrong he is an absolutely fantastic stallion,” Williams said.
Darci Brahma has been a favourite at The Oaks from day one with his endearing nature.
“He is really straight forward to deal with and he’s got a beautiful nature.” - Rick Williams.
He is also confident they have a number of home-bred Darci Brahma youngsters to continue the roll.
“I think Spring Bouquet can give the G2 Eight Carat S. a shake and we’ve got a 3-year-old out of Seachange that will race over Christmas and New Year and she's pretty fast,” Williams said.
He also pointed to the Allan Sharrock-trained Sinarahma (NZ) , a daughter of the multiple Group 1 winner Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}), who has won twice from three appearances, as another Darci Brahma stakes winner in waiting.
“She’s very good. She sat three and four wide the other day and just ran away from them,” Williams said.
- Paul Vettise, TDN Australia/New Zealand
