Is This Another Blue Diamond Winner for Starcraft?

With the likes of Blizzard, Eroico and House of Fun flying the flag in Hong Kong, Starcraft has been enjoying a renaissance of late but closer to home the Rosemont Stud stallion looks to have a gelding capable of playing a major role in the top two-year-old races this autumn.

Following a pleasing first up second behind the promising Catchy (Fastnet Rock) over 1100 metres at Caulfield when making his career debut on January 7, the Robert Smerdon-trained Property dominated the opposition in Thursday's $150,000 Listed Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Preview (C&G) (1000m) at Caulfield.

In a wonderful advertisement for the upcoming Inglis sales in Sydney and Melbourne, it was the $130,000 Classic Yearling sale purchase Property defeating the $310,000 Premier Sale graduate Azazel (Snitzel) by one and three-quarter lengths with $80,000 Premier Sale purchase Indernile (Street Boss) a short-half-head back in third. (photo Grant Courtney). 

Although Property is not entered for the Blue Diamond, winning rider Craig Williams said the son of Starcraft is up to the class.

"He was really good, got around the corner well and delivered a nice win in a strong race," Williams said.

"He settled nicely for me and was always travelling well."

"He jumped a bit slow today and I didn't expect to be as far back as I was.

"He's made good natural progression from that first preparation, he was a little bit wobbly into the home straight but when I asked him he put them away nicely.

"He's got a big future."

Consigned by Amarina Farm to the 2016 Classic Yearling sale, Property (pictured as a yearling)  is the third foal of the unraced Anabaa (USA) mare Opalize whose dam Opal Fire is a sister to Group I Futurity Stakes and Group I CF Orr Stakes winner Desert Sky (Hurricane Sky).

Purchased for just $2,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare sale, Opalize was not covered for the two seasons following the birth of Property but was covered by Newgate Farm's Sizzling last spring.

Property becomes the 17^th stakes-winner Stracraft who started his career at Arrowfield Stud before transferring to Rosemont Stud in Victoria in 2014.

Standing at a fee of $6,600, Starcraft has a Group I Blue Diamond Stakes winner already on his CV.

His son Star Witness claimed the race in 2010 before earning a spot on the Widden Stud stallion roster.