breednet.com.au

First Winner from First Runner for Cluster

Mark Smith - Sunday November 18

A ground-saving ride by Craig Newitt paved the way for Gee Gees Darl to make a winning career debut in a 1000 metre maiden at Hobart on Saturday to credit Laurnek Stud's first season sire Cluster (Fastnet Rock) with his first winner from his first runner.

Tracking the early speed after making a quick start, Gee Gees Darl defied a betting drift to defeat Fitzwilliam (Wordsmith) by half a length with a further length back to Gee Gees Punter (Wordsmith).

Advertisement


Gee Gees Darl (pictured as a yearling ) was a $45,000 purchase by Paul and Elizabeth Geard from the Alva Stud draft at the 2018 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale.

The striking black filly is the fourth foal and the third winner from as many to race out of the 6-time winning Tough Speed mare Speedy Sky who placed in the Listed Tasmanian oaks and Listed TRC Stutt Stakes.

A highly talented son of Fastnet Rock, Cluster won three races including the Group II ATC Theo Marks Stakes and placed in the Group II MVRC Stutt Stakes and Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes in a career restricted to 12 starts.

He covered 68 mares in his first season and stands this year at Laurnek Stud for an unchanged fee of $6,600 inc GST

Advertisment
More Reading...
New Vendors Step into NZB Ready to Run Sale Spotlight
The horsemen and women who prepare two-year-olds for the NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka every November are internationally renowned as some of the very best in the world at what they do, and a new generation will join them next month as first-time vendors.
$1.35m Easter Purchase Chicama Wins Warwick Farm Opener
A half-brother to Champion 3YO Filly Shoals (Fastnet Rock), Written Tycoon colt Chicama appreciated not only the step up to 1400m for the first time to break his maiden, but a change to the Joe Pride yard appears to have also done the trick.
Wootton Verni Wins G3 Coongy Cup
The late Wootton Basset was one of those stallions whose progeny can excel over all distances and we saw a taste of it at Caulfield on Wednesday when his French bred five year-old Wootton Verni (Fr) won the $240,000 Group III MRC Coongy Cup (2000m).
2025 Nolan Scholarship awarded to Mackenzie Porter
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) is delighted to announce that the 2025 Nolan Scholarship has been awarded to TBA Fast Track graduate Mackenzie Porter.  
Cluster Stakes His Claim
The rise of champion sire Fastnet Rock as a sire of sires has been clearly illustrated by his brilliant sons Hinchinbrook, Foxwedge, Smart Missile and now Your Song, so Neville Murdoch of Larneuk Stud is more than hopeful he has the horse to write the next chapter of success for this emerging sire dynasty.
Larneuk's Cluster is Ready to Rock
Broodmare owners employ various criteria when it comes to stallion selection.
Larneuk Celebrate Fairytale Start for Cluster
Larneuk Stud's exciting young stallion Cluster is off and rolling with his very first runner - the promising Gee Gees Darl - recording such a gutsy victory at her Hobart debut last weekend.
Melbourne Cup Dream Hangs in Balance for Sharp 'n' Smart
Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) campaign hangs in the balance, with his performance in Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie dictating whether he continues on that path.
Facile Victory By Ole Kirk’s Regal Award At Caulfield
Breaking his maiden in style two starts back over 1300m at Sandown, the Phillip Stokes trained Ole Kirk gelding Regal Award appreciated the 1600m on Wednesday at Caulfield, pulling clear to win the MRC Foundation Pin & Win Handicap by seven and a half lengths.
Cluster Proves Poplar at Tassie MM
The first Cluster to make her way through the sales ring looks set to race with a variation of "Gee Gee" in her name after being purchased by successful owners Paul and Elizabeth Geard at Thursday's Tasmanian Magic Millions.