Starcraft (horse)
Encyclopedia
Starcraft is an Australian-owned Thoroughbred
racehorse
who came to international attention when he won the Group 1
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
at Newmarket
in England in September 2005. He was the winner of five Group One
(G1) races in four countries, the 2004 Australian Champion Three Year Old
and also the 2005 World Champion Older Turf Miler.
s high, foaled at Garry and Mark Chittick's Waikato Stud in New Zealand
. Starcraft is by Soviet Star (USA), from Flying Floozie (Pompeii Court (USA) - Lucky Heiress). He is half-brother to Forum Floozie (by Danasinga (AUS), a listed race winner of $478,530). Starcraft was auctioned as a yearling and sold for only NZ$80,000 to a syndicate of Australians, headed by Australian Paul Makin.
in Queensland
to winning the Group 1 Australian Derby in Sydney
, Australia as a three year old. Other victories included the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes
, also in Sydney. As a four year old he won the Group 1 Mudgway Stakes in New Zealand before been beaten into third place in the 2004 Cox Plate
after starting one of the favourites. Despite this setback the owners continued with their plans on worldwide campaign for Starcraft.
Luca Cumani
and was ridden by French
jockey Christophe Lemaire
.
In Europe, he surprised many Northern Hemisphere race fans with his dominance when he won the 1,600 metre Prix du Moulin
at Longchamp
, Paris
. He proved this was no fluke, and that he was the dominant miler in Europe, when winning the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
which was held at Newmarket because Ascot
was being refurbished at the time. This was his 11th win from 22 race starts and his fifth G1 success.
The horse started in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic
event at Belmont Park
in the United States in 2005. The owners had to pay a fee of $800,000 to enter him in this race, which was considered a huge gamble because it was a dirt track and the horse had always previously raced on grass. He drew the outside barrier, got away to a slow start and finished 7th in a 13 horse field.
, New South Wales.
He is the sire of over 250 live foals that have now won over $1,187,752, including:
In 2010 66 Starcraft yearlings were sold for an average of $99,288. His advertised 2011 service fee is $44,000.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
who came to international attention when he won the Group 1
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is now scheduled to take place each year in October. As of 2011, it is run on Champions Day as the final race...
at Newmarket
Newmarket Racecourse
The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping...
in England in September 2005. He was the winner of five Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
(G1) races in four countries, the 2004 Australian Champion Three Year Old
Australian Champion Three Year Old
The Australian Champion Three Year Old is awarded annually to the three year old Thoroughbred horse whose performances in Australia are deemed to be the most impressive throughout the racing season....
and also the 2005 World Champion Older Turf Miler.
Breeding
He is a chestnut stallion, standing 16.2 handHand (unit)
The hand is a non-SI unit of measurement of length, now used only for the measurement of the height of horses in some English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. With origins in ancient Egypt, it was originally based on the breadth of a human hand...
s high, foaled at Garry and Mark Chittick's Waikato Stud in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Starcraft is by Soviet Star (USA), from Flying Floozie (Pompeii Court (USA) - Lucky Heiress). He is half-brother to Forum Floozie (by Danasinga (AUS), a listed race winner of $478,530). Starcraft was auctioned as a yearling and sold for only NZ$80,000 to a syndicate of Australians, headed by Australian Paul Makin.
Racing record
Starcraft progressed from a second placing in a two-year-old maiden raceMaiden race horse
A Maiden race horse is the term that refers to a race horse that has yet to win a single race. The races are generally run for younger more inexperienced horses at two and three. However, many maidens never "break their maiden", and will continue to race at later ages, often retiring winless.Zippy...
in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
to winning the Group 1 Australian Derby in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia as a three year old. Other victories included the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes
Chipping Norton Stakes
The Chipping Norton Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race run at weight for age, over a distance of 1600 metres at Warwick Farm Racecourse, Sydney in February or March.-Distance:* 1925 - 1972 held over 10 furlongs The Chipping Norton Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred...
, also in Sydney. As a four year old he won the Group 1 Mudgway Stakes in New Zealand before been beaten into third place in the 2004 Cox Plate
Cox Plate
The W.S. Cox Plate is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to honour W.S. Cox, the club's founder. For three-year-olds and over, the race is considered to be the Weight for Age championship of Australasia...
after starting one of the favourites. Despite this setback the owners continued with their plans on worldwide campaign for Starcraft.
Overseas
Starcraft was taken to Great Britain on 4 February 2005 where he was trained by ItalianItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Luca Cumani
Luca Cumani
Luca M. Cumani is an Italian thoroughbred horse trainer. He has trained at Bedford House Stables in Newmarket, England since 1976...
and was ridden by French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
jockey Christophe Lemaire
Christophe Lemaire
Christophe Patrice Lemaire is a French-born jockey. He takes his middle name from his father, who made a name for himself in the world of French handicap racing.In 1999 he obtained the licence required for a French jockey, and began racing...
.
In Europe, he surprised many Northern Hemisphere race fans with his dominance when he won the 1,600 metre Prix du Moulin
Prix du Moulin de Longchamp
The Prix du Moulin de Longchamp is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged three years or older...
at Longchamp
Hippodrome de Longchamp
The Longchamp Racecourse is a 57 hectare horse-racing facility located on the Route des Tribunes in the Bois de Boulogne at Paris, France. Built on the banks of the Seine River, it is used for flat racing and is noted for its variety of interlaced tracks and a famous hill that provides a real...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He proved this was no fluke, and that he was the dominant miler in Europe, when winning the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is now scheduled to take place each year in October. As of 2011, it is run on Champions Day as the final race...
which was held at Newmarket because Ascot
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
was being refurbished at the time. This was his 11th win from 22 race starts and his fifth G1 success.
The horse started in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
event at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
in the United States in 2005. The owners had to pay a fee of $800,000 to enter him in this race, which was considered a huge gamble because it was a dirt track and the horse had always previously raced on grass. He drew the outside barrier, got away to a slow start and finished 7th in a 13 horse field.
Stud record
Starcraft retired to stud in 2006. He served his first group of mares to Northern Hemisphere time at Cheveley Park Stud at Newmarket, England. He was exported from England on 7 August 2006 and stood his first Southern Hemisphere season at Arrowfield Stud in the Hunter ValleyHunter Valley
The Hunter Region, more commonly known as the Hunter Valley, is a region of New South Wales, Australia, extending from approximately to north of Sydney with an approximate population of 645,395 people. Most of the population of the Hunter Region lives within of the coast, with 55% of the entire...
, New South Wales.
He is the sire of over 250 live foals that have now won over $1,187,752, including:
- Star Witness – (won G1 2010 Blue Diamond StakesBlue Diamond StakesThe Blue Diamond Stakes is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for two year olds, at set weights, run over 1200 metres at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The race was first run in 1971 and is Victoria's richest two year old race with total prizemoney of A$1.0 million...
, G1 2010 Coolmore Stud Stakes) - We Can Say It Now - (won G1 2010 Levin Classic, G1 2010 Captain Cook StakesCaptain Cook StakesThe Captain Cook Stakes is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run at weight-for-age over a distance of 1,600 metres at Trentham Racecourse in Wellington, New Zealand...
)
In 2010 66 Starcraft yearlings were sold for an average of $99,288. His advertised 2011 service fee is $44,000.