Brilliant Start for Cluster

Tara Madgwick - Monday February 4

Two runners, two winners, the perfect start for Larneuk Stud's exciting young stallion Cluster.

ClusterAnd in the space of just five days a winner and black type!

Having impressed saluting at her Hobart debut last November, Gee Gees Darl has not put a hoof wrong since, in her three subsequent outings finishing a game runner-up - last Sunday proving herself in stakes company with a gallant second in the Listed Elwick Stakes.

Four starts, a win and three seconds - consistent, just like her sire.

And, like Cluster, able to quickly find form - as did Galaxy at Canberra on Friday, at just his second outing that Wendy Roche trained gelding racing away to an easy victory over 1000m.

It was a deserved win on the back of a torrid run at his Rosehill debut where he worked so hard throughout. Things went better for him this time, the handsome bay sitting off a hot pace and charging to the line.

The ease of Galaxy's victory came as no surprise to part owner/breeder (with Dr John Crowley) and trainer Wendy Roche who has always had a big opinion of the youngster.

"He got broken in late but did a breeze up sale preparation and ran 10.54 seconds at only his second ever gallop."

"We ran him in a hot field in town at his first start but he got pushed wide the whole way."

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"With the blinkers off at his second start I thought he was in a good chance and we were happy to have him settle off the pace so that he could learn how to hit he line which he did."

Now off to the paddock with improvement to come, Galaxy is part of a great start for Cluster who looks to have so much more to offer with the Bryan & Daniel Guy trained Bunched one to look out for on the back of an impressive 2 1/2 length trial victory at the Gold Coast in late January.

Larneuk Stud's Neville Murdoch bred a few of his own who have also been showing promise and he admits to being excited.

"It is not easy to compete with the big studs and the young stallions represented by large books so it is great to see Cluster going head to head with them, already in the top ten first season sires!"

"From day one we have been impressed by the strength and presence of his foals and we are sure that they are only to get better as they mature."

A particularly good looking son of the champion stallion Fastnet Rock (well represented by 142 stakes winners with over $166 million in progeny earnings... and who has already had nine sons sire stakes winners), the Gr.2 winning Cluster has inherited his sire's strength coupled nicely with the refinement of his dam sire Last Tycoon whose influence as a broodmare sire is considerable - 152 stakes winners and over $237 million in prize money.

For further information on Cluster who stands at $6600 (incl gst), contact Neville Murdoch on 0418 105 706.

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