Those in the know in racing will tell you that you need a good 2000m horse to win the big Randwick mile.’ No better horse is Star Thoroughbreds syndicated D’argento who is already the winner of 2000m Rosehill Guineas and as $4 race favourite he has the $1m TAB Epsom Handicap of 1600m in his sights.
“Drawing barrier 1 is better than drawing barrier 20,” said a delighted jockey James McDonald at the official Group 1 TAB Epsom Barrier Draw “and 53.5kg is a good weight. From barrier 1 the best ones are around us and the speed will be on.”
“With the running rail in the true position we will be in the centre. There will be enough speed on for me to look for a position and come off where ever I can,” continued James McDonald. “If we get clear ground at the 500 it would be ideal, as they will be stalking us and coming at us at the finish.”
Denise Martin established Star Thoroughbreds in 1994 and stated that ‘over 20 years of racetrack success has been the hallmark to the longevity of the now famous Star Thoroughbreds purple and white stars racing colours.’
What better way to achieve 20 years of purple and white success than with champion racehorse and sire Sebring, being the Champion 2YO Colt of 2007-08 and selling for a $28 million stallion prospect.
In winning the Golden Slipper Stakes, AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes and second in the Champagne Stakes, Sebring was an immediate success for Widden Stud in siring the Australian Derby winner Criterion in his first crop and Dissident, the Australian Horse of the Year in 2014-15.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Theseo, the Champion Middle Distance Horse of 2008-09 would certainly have made it for Denise Martin and Star Thoroughbreds in scoring five Group 1 victories including the Epsom Handicap of 2008.
Group 1 success continued with the Sportingbet Classic winner Driefontien being sold for $1.5 million to international breeding interests, the Flight Stakes winner Danglissa going to stud for $650,000 and Foxplay, the Coolmore Legacy winner, also won the ATC Princess Series and is retired to stud.
Today Star Thoroughbreds has Noire, the Shannon Stakes winner, Fiesta winning the Silver Shadow Stakes, plus duel Group 2 winner Invincibella, in addition to Religify and Cellarman.
Raced by Kathryn Wood-Enriquez, Rob Cummins, Hattie Cummins, John Roe, David Wilson, Gail Robertson, Judy Coleman, Michael Woodcroft, Jean Woodcroft, Mark Azzopardi, Leanne Azzopardi, Ray Aurisch, Helen Aurisch and Peter Aquino, D’argento is trained at Rosehill Gardens by the seven times champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller.
D’argento is coming off a second in the Theo Marks Stakes having been run on an unsuitable Heavy 8 track over 1300m at Rosehill Gardens. At his previous start D’argento was first-up following a 15-week spell, running a 3 length third to the great mare Winx, who had her 26th consecutive race win in taking out the Winx Stakes of 1400m at Royal Randwick.
The classic Rosehill Guineas of 2000m, was D’argento’s principal 3yo success last season in defeating stable-mate Tangled. Dropping back to 1600m at his next start in the historical Doncaster Mile of 1600m at Randwick, D’argento ran a credible 2½ lengths fourth to the more seasoned Happy Clapper.
D’argento won his first start as a 3yo over 1300m at Randwick, going onto to be third in the Hobartville Stakes and seventh in the Randwick Guineas. At two years he won his only two starts over 1500m at Rosehill and 1200m at Newcastle.
D’argento is also entered for the WS Cox Plate, to be run at Moonee Valley on 27 October, the Caulfield Cup of 2400m and the ‘two mile’ $7.3m Melbourne Cup, ’the race that stops the nation.’
A silver-grey 4yo horse D’argento was $135,000 buy at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Baramul Stud, in the Widden Valley. D’argento is the family of sprinter-miler Sizzling, winner of the TJ Smith Stakes of 1600m at Eagle Farm, and three Group 2 events from 1200m to 1400m.
From the stakes winning Redoubt’s Choice mare Fullazz, a winner up to 1500m, D’angento is a half-brother to two 1600m winners. The stakes producing third dam Estate Label, by Without Fear, is the dam of stakes winners and stakes producing mares Loving Cup, Laudemio and Vintage Dance.
Verging on being the best of his Australian and European Champion winning sire So You Think, D’argento joins Inference and La Bella Diosa in being his Group 1 Guineas winners. So You Think, by the Epsom and Irish Derby winner High Chaparral, twice won the WS Cox Plate of 2040m, with his Group 2 winning dam Triassic having won up to 2000 metres.
By Bernard Kenny