Starcraft Sprinter Wins Seven From Nine

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday January 2
Racing at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on New Year's Day produced a new stakes-winner for Starcraft with exciting prospect Conte overpowering his rivals to win the Group III Chinese Club Challenge Cup bringing a big pedigree update for his Magic Millions bound half-sister.

Conte - HKJCTrained by John Size, five year-old Conte has been steadily working through the grades and surged to the line under Joao Moreira to win this 1400 metre sprint by three-quarters of a length as favourite.

The big bay's victory was one of five on the 11-race card for Size and his stable jockey Moreira, and left the latter enthusing about his mount.

"I'm very excited. I believe we're going to see more upside," said Moreira after Conte had stopped the clock at 1m 20.85s, eased down and still only 0.54s off the track record.

The manner of success and his impressive overall record of seven wins from nine starts has connections considering a possible tilt at Beauty Generation in the Group I Stewards' Cup (1600m) three weeks from now.

Size has that race on his radar, if not yet locked in. "I'll certainly have to consider it," the champion trainer said. "I'll weigh it up but he's run out of other options very fast – if he doesn't go there he stays home in the box."

Joao Moreira has ridden Conte in all of his wins and is a big fan.

"I love everything about this horse; his character, his personality, his attitude, his movement; the way he responds when you ask, he just does it for you. What I really love is when you put him under pressure he may not look like he's dashing but I can tell you, he's going fast," he said.

"Probably because he's big and he's covering lot of ground, it doesn't look as if he's quickening like he is,"

StarcraftConte was a $50,000 Magic Millions Book Two purchase for Aquanita Racing from the Rosari Farm draft and was bred by Ged Nolan.

He is the best of three winners from three foals to race from Miss Midas, a half-sister by Flying Spur to Group II winner Innovation Girl, the dam of stakes-winner Chloe in Paris.

Rosari Farm will offer a Deep Field half-sister to Conte at Magic Millions Book Two in 2019 as Lot 1036.

Conte is the 20th stakes-winner for Rosemont Stud's Starcraft, who has had increased popularity with breeders in the past couple of years covering 101 mares in 2017 and over 50 last year.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
New Hong Kong Stakes-Winner for Starcraft
The Group III Sha Tin Vase on Sunday was won by progressive Starcraft sprinter Winner’s Way, a $55,000 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale purchase for John Foote Bloodstock from the Kitchwin Hills draft.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.