More Group Success for Darci La Bella

Media Release - Saturday December 17

Pocket rocket Darci La Bella added another present under the Christmas tree for her connections when she proved too strong in the closing stages when taking out the Gr.2 Bramco Granite and Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Trentham.

 Darci La Bella defeats Coventina Bay as she wins the Gr.2 Bramco Granite and Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Trentham Photo Credit: Race Images – Peter Rubery

The Allan Sharrock-trained mare made it four wins in a row, three of them at stakes level, as she downed Group One winner Coventina Bay in a driving finish to the Group Two feature.

Rider Jonathan Riddell had a few anxious moments as he tried to find clear room at the top of the straight but once the daughter of Darci Brahma had shouldered her way clear, her instant acceleration quickly took her to the front before holding out the determined charge of Coventina Bay and Cambridge visitor Oseleta to claim the victory.

Riddell was quick to make mention of the mare’s diminutive stature when explaining how the race had played out.

“She travelled quite keen the whole way today,” Riddell said.

“She got stuck in a pocket and I had to use all 14 hands of her to push out, but she scoots away and just did it all by herself.

“She is a genuine racehorse and I wish they were all like that.”

Sharrock was delighted to see his charge round out a long season with such a tenacious performance as he looks to further glory with her in her next campaign.

“She has just capped off a wonderful season as she has raced through the winter and on to here and has never put a foot wrong,” he said.

Advertisement

“I was going to put her away after she won the Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.3 1400m) at Hawera, but we kept her going to Pukekohe (Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes 1400m) where she gave them a hiding and now, she has come out and done this.

“There’s not much to her size wise, but she is as tough as they come and she never shirks a fight.”

Darci La Bella will now head to the spelling paddock with a shot at the highest level looming for her in the spring

“She can go in the paddock now, but I think she could be a Group One winner in the spring next year with some more maturity,” Sharrock said.

“She has so much natural ability and can run on all types of tracks so a race like the Tarzino Trophy (Gr.1, 1400m) at Hastings is a race I would like to target for her.

“The Darci Brahma’s tend to get better with age and if all goes to plan, she will be very competitive on what she has achieved so far in her career.”

Darci La Bella has compiled an outstanding record of eleven wins from just 17 starts, including two at Group Two level and another at Group Three, with prizemoney in excess of $368,000.

Raced by Sharrock along with long-term clients Ann and Hec McCallum and Ron and Noel Stanley, Darci La Bella is the younger half-sister to another much loved stakes performer in his stable in Tavi Mac. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Bramco Granite Challenge Stks Gr2 1400m

Trentham Track: Slow(8) Time: 1:25.54
1
Darci La Bella
- 5m Darci Brahma (NZ) x Bellaroof (NZ) (Maroof (USA))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: J K Riddell 57
2
0.8
Coventina Bay
- 7m Shamexpress (NZ) x Coventina (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: R J Patterson Rdr: C J Grylls 57
3
1.2
Oseleta
- 5m Deep Field (AUS) x Riesling (NZ) (Last Tycoon (IRE))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: C Zackey 57
4
1.5
Deerfield
- 9g Falkirk (NZ) x The Dazzler (NZ) (Centaine (AUS))
Tnr: C A Bambry Rdr: K Asano 59
5
1.7
Old Town Road
- 5g El Roca (AUS) x Malaya (NZ) (Towkay (AUS))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: L J Allpress 59
6
2.7
Packing Rockstar
- 7g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Anabandana (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Ms L Brennan Rdr: Joe Doyle 59
7
3.5
Belclare
- 5m Per Incanto (USA) x Miss Rhythmic (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: M J Mc Nab 57
8
4.5
Colorado Star
- 7g Alamosa (NZ) x Elegant Emerald (AUS) (Unbridled's Song (USA))
Tnr: M P Breslin Rdr: L T Hemi 59
9
4.9
Brando
- 5g Savabeel (AUS) x Saoirse (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: J Kamaruddin 59
10
6.7
Sanibel
- 6m Shamexpress (NZ) x Margaux Belle (NZ) (Kaapstad (NZ))
Tnr: S L Brown Rdr: K R Hercock 57
11
7.0
Cavallo Veloce
- 7g O'Reilly (NZ) x Giant Mystique (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: Peter & Shaun McKay Rdr: S M Mc Kay 59
More Reading...
Flemington Victory for Tarzino Mare
Quirky but talented mare Miss Tarzy has come from last win the Leilani Series Final (1400m) under a patient Jett Stanley ride.
Pride’s Outsider Estadio Mestalla Wins Winter Stakes
The lone stakes race on Rosehill’s ten-race card on Saturday saw Joe Pride’s race outsider Estadio Mestalla (Galileo Gold) take out the $200,000 Listed ATC Winter Stakes (1400m) in a boilover.
Invincible 3YO Wins G3 Winx Guineas
The $300,000 Group III Winx Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday featured a big field of 16 up and comers and following the late scratching of favourite Mister Bianco, Angela Jones took luck out of the equation on I Am Invincible gelding The Three Hundred.
Divine Prophet’s Fortunate Kiss Captures Elusive Black Type Win
With nine top five finishes in previous black type races, it was better late than never as 6yo Divine Prophet mare Fortunate Kiss charged along the inside to win the $300,000 Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday – her first black type victory.
Marble Nine Brings Up Second SW For Aquis Sire Kobayashi
The withdrawal of the top weight in Saturday’s $175,000 Listed VRC Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington saw the field down to just six, with Marble Nine continuing his outstanding recent form to secure his first black type victory.
Kiwi Bred Good Banter Finds Winning Form
Four-year-old mare Good Banter was back in the winner’s circle when narrowly prevailing in the Catanach's Jewellers Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 5
Here is the full list of 112 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz Wins A.R. Creswick Stakes
While many felt the winner of Saturday’s Listed $175,000 VRC A.R. Creswick Stakes (1200m) had raced two weeks prior in the Shop Flemington Handicap (1100m) – and they would’ve been correct – but it was not the result many punters felt it would be!
Sweet Redemption for Stable Favourite Jimmy the Bear
Patrick and Michelle Payne enjoyed a red letter day at Flemington on Saturday with their rising star Buccleuch winning the Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final and then later in the day stable favourite Jimmy the Bear won the Listed VRC Winter Championship Series Final (1600m).
Buccleuch - First Stakes-Winner for Peltzer
The $175,000 Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday was won back in 2020 by Cherry Tortoni, who went to on to become a multiple Group winner of nearly $1million and the same colours were carried by this year’s winner Buccleuch.