Darci Brahma

Darci Brahma - the highest-priced yearling from the 2004 Karaka Sales purchased from the draft of Pencarrow Stud for $1.1 million by David Ellis and was trained by Mark Walker. Darci Brahma was officially retired from racing on Thursday 15 February 2007 and will stand at The Oaks Stud.

By Danehill from Grand Echezeaux, Darci certainly lived up to expectations winning his debut as a 2YO as well as the Listed Fairview Ford Slipper (1200m) at Matamata in brilliant style. He also finished 2nd in the Group 1 Ford Ellerslie Sires’ Produce Stakes before going to Brisbane where he won the $A500,000 Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm. He headed the 2004-05 New Zealand 2YO Free Handicaps and was named Mercedes Champion 2YO for 2005.

Darci Brahma made a spectacular start to his 3YO racing career winning the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) and Group 2 Wellington Thoroughbred Breeders’ Guineas (1500m) in absolutely outstanding style. He went on to score again at Group 1 level in the $300,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November 2005 with a prowehouse display of galloping in the hands of Michael Walker. After finishing 2nd in the Group 1 Waikato Draught Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 11 2006 Darci Brahma stepped up to register his third Group 1 success in the $100,000 Otaki-Maori Weight-For Age at Otaki a fortnight later.

At Hawkes Bay in September 2006 Darci Brahma went two extremely brave races to finish 2nd behind Seachange in the both the Group 1 Mudgeway Stakes (throwing a plate during the race) and the Group 1 Stoneybridge Stakes. That month Darci Brahma was also named Mercedes Champion 3YO for 2005/06.

Darci Brahma secured his forth valuable Group 1 title on 20 January 2007 when he emphatically won the WRC $200,000 Group 1 Telegraph Handicap fresh up over 1200m in the hands of Opie Bosson. He made it back to back Group 1 races claiming the Group 1 Waikato Draught Sprint at Te Rapa, Hamilton on 10 February 2007. He suffered an injury to his hock and the decision was made to retire him. In August 2007, Darci Brahma was again honoured, this time for his 4 year old career, by being named Mercedes Campion Sprinter.

Darci Brahma never finished further back than second in any of his New Zealand starts which were all, bar one race, in Group and Listed company. His prize money totalled $1,230,186 and he won 10 times from 19 attempts. He was the highest rated 3YO on the Free Handicap for 2005/06 and was the highest rated New Zealand horse on the ANZ ratings with 108 pints with his nearest NZ rival on 103. He stands now at The Oaks Stud for a service fee of $20,000 and his progent are firing - he is the leading second season sire in Australia and New Zealand.