Ellis Purchases $350,000 Darci Brahma Colt

Media Release - Thursday November 19

Nearly 17 years after Te Akau Principal David Ellis bought five-time Group One winner Darci Brahma at Karaka, he returned to New Zealand Bloodstock’s sales complex to buy what he has deemed to be his best son.

$350,000 Darci Brahma colt - image Trish Dunnell.

Ellis went to $1.1 million to secure Darci Brahma out of Pencarrow Stud’s 2004 Premier Yearling Sale draft, and he only had to go to a fraction of that to purchase lot 219, the colt out of Encosta de Lago mare Granadilla, from Lilywhites Lodge’s Ready To Run Sale draft on Thursday.

“I bought Darci Brahma, his sire, here at the sales and he was a champion two-year-old, champion three-year-old, and champion four-year-old, and he has been a fantastic success at stud,” Ellis said.

“I have been waiting to buy what I thought was a really top Darci Brahma yearling and I had to go to the Ready-To-Run Sale.

"I was here three days ago and I thought ‘that’s the best Darci Brahma I have ever seen and I am going to buy him’.”

The colt was knocked down to Ellis’ final bid of $350,000 and he said the two-year-old will have a near identical training environment as his sire.

“I paid a bit more than I thought I would have to but to buy these top horses you have got to pay a bit more,” Ellis said.

“It is pretty exciting to have him. I am going to give him Darci Brahma’s box which he had when he was a racehorse.”

Ellis was impressed with the colt’s breeze-up but said he does not put a lot of reliance on that facet of the sale.

Advertisement

“I don’t take too much notice of the breeze-ups, but he did breeze-up very well and he impressed everybody that has been involved with the horse,” Ellis said.

“It is the individual, their attitude, and type, which are more important to me.”

Ellis purchased six previous lots at the sale and he said demand for the two-year-olds from his clients has been strong.

“Everything we bought yesterday has all sold and the horses we have bought at the sale today will be up on our website tonight,” he said.

Vendors Derek Nolan and Sophia Orting of Lilywhites Lodge were duly rapt with the result.

“It’s just Lilywhites second sale and a highlight result for the young business,” Nolen said.

“We are just over the moon about the result. The look on breeder Ron Tunnicliffe's face was priceless. We are so excited for him and also that he has gone to Te Akau. We could not be happier.” – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Early Return Home for Cogburn
Group I winning Not This Time son Cogburn (USA) will return to WinStar Farm in Kentucky earlier than planned after disappointing fertility results during his first Australian covering season at Widden Stud.
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 24
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 26
Here is the full list of 74 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.