O My O'Darci

Backed into favouritism, O'Darci (4 g Darci Brahma - O'Sequita, by O'Reilly) gave his rivals a towelling in the Benchmark 65 1400 metres on Oct. 24 at Hastings.

Anyone that had seen the manner of his recent trial win would have jumped on the bandwagon, when travelling comfortably on the pace wearing blinkers he quickened off the turn to score easily over stable-mate Abidewithme (Redoute's Choice), and Fantastic Honour (Any Suggestion), at Cambridge, and going off at $3.80 & $1.90 he was still a shade underestimated.

Abidewithme was a winner of the Ray Coupland Stakes (Listed, 1400m) in her first campaign, and Fantastic Honour finished second in both the Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) and Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m).

Jockey Matt Cameron had O'Darci beautifully positioned three back on the rail, after beginning well from barrier two, and once clear at the 200-metre mark he proved a class above his rivals in winning by nearly four lengths.

Having shown good stretch when winning on debut at his only previous start, over 1200 metres in May on slow ground at Woodville, there looked to be plenty ahead for the big, powerful galloper after running the 1400 metres in 1:23.52 on footing upgraded to Dead4.

“It was a very good win from a promising horse,” said Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman. “We still have a lot of work to do with him in regard to his racing manners but he has undeniable ability.

“We will work him out and we have wonderfully patient owners that allow us the necessary time to do so,” said Bridgman.

Bred by Carol Marshall and Nessie Paykel, O'Darci is raced by them along with Margaret Morris, and Bob Morris.

His half-brother Captain Kurt (Volksraad) finished second to Darci Brahma (Danehill) in the 2005 Two Thousand Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), producing a 10:3-5-2 record, and his grand-dam, Sequita (Sovereign Edition), was a stakes winning mare in a career of ten victories from thirty starts over 1200 - 2000 metres. Strikingly obvious in the form of these two horses was their consistency and having won two from two O'Darci has started in the right vein to emulate.

Following the debut win by O'Darci in May, Carol Marshall offered kind words with regard having the horse with Te Akau:

“We're over the moon with the win,” she said. “He looked fantastic and Jason (Bridgman) and the staff have done a wonderful job with him. He has a lot of Darci Brahma and Sequita in him. She was a beautiful mare and although O'Darci is such a big boy he still has the tow to run over 1200 metres and he should be a good miler in time.

“Sequita died having his dam, O'Sequita, so as a last foal we were nervous and only gave her a little prep because she was the last filly foal. So, she wasn't tried and went straight to stud. Her first foal, Captain Kurt, was very good and we never really saw the best of him. It has been a wonderful family to us.

“I think we'll see a lot of O'Darci next year and the year after, as he's doing it on raw ability at present. Jason has been very patient and we've let him do what he's wanted to do.

“We find that Te Akau is just so far ahead with the communications we get. The photos and reports we get are marvellous and we even got congratulations from Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) just after the race. It is great communication and I tell everyone that. I go to the website each day, and the new one is really good,” said Carol.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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