Now in the retirement paddock, champion sire Flying Spur continues to build an imposing record.
His statistics were boosted today by Sacred Star’s game third placing in the $200,000 WRC Thorndon Mile. 1600m G1, less than two lengths from the winner A Touch Of Ruby.
It was the 4YO gelding’s his first start in black type company after winning five of his previous 14 starts in New Zealand and New South Wales.
Sacred Star was bred by Mark Ruff from the O’Reilly mare Irish Nova and bought by Guy Mucaster for $200,000 from the Attunga Stud draft at the 2011 Inglis Australian Easter Sale. Attunga will also present a full brother to Sacred Star at the 2014 Easter Sale in April.
Irish Nova was Group-placed at two and is a sister to the dam of Group-winning Kiwi mare Diademe. The family has also produced the Australian Group winners Sportsman, Prisoner Of Love, Hoystar and Strike The Stars.
Sacred Star is trained in New Zealand by the high-flying Cambridge-based team of Tony Pike & Mark Donoghue for Raffles Thoroughbred Racing.
Flying Spur enjoyed early success in New Zealand with top-class juveniles San Luis, Flying Babe & Velasco, and Sacred Star is his second Group 1 performer there this season, after Full of Spirit (2nd, Hawke’s Bay Challenge S. G1).
Fillies from Flying Spur’s last crop will be offered by Lyndhurst Farm and Trelawney Stud at the New Zealand Premier Sale on Monday & Tuesday. A further 10 lots are catalogued for the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale, and nine lots for the Easter Sale.
