Justin Snaith provided the anticipated feature fireworks at Fairview on Friday when his pair of Acrostar and the locally-bred Harvard Crimson fought out an exciting duel in the R150 000 Listed Jockey Club Stakes.
Richard Fourie drives Acrostar up on the line (Pic – Coastal Photos)
Justin Snaith and stable jockey Richard Fourie were in prime form, recording a dazzling hat-trick on a great day at the office.
Snaith saddled the top-rated trio in a race comprised only of mares – and it must have been heartbreaking for the connections of the gallant daughter of Dynasty, Harvard Crimson, who was denied what would have been a deserved stakes win by the roll of the bobbing heads dice.
The photo showing that the fancied Australian bred Acrostar had got the verdict by a short head.
After Preoccupation had shown the way with Acrostar loping along in last, Craig Du Plooy had Harvard Crimson in front and looking strong at the 350m.
How we saw it – Harvard Crimson was our cover star
With 200m to go Richard Fourie was at work on Acrostar who bearing down hard on the leader.
In a finely timed surge, Acrostar got the nod on the line, to hold Harvard Crimson in a time of 126,27 secs.
Local hope Kumiko was prominent for a long way but had no answers and was relegated to a well-beaten third.
The third of the Snaith trio, Cat And The Moon, was one-paced but rounded off the quartet in fourth.
The now dual stakes winning Acrostar is from the last crop of the pensioned champion and multiple champion 2yo sire, Danehill Dancer. He was Champion Sire in Britain and Ireland in 2009 and Champion Sire of 2-Year-Olds on three occasions.
His best sons were undoubtedly Mastercraftsman and Choisir who have both carved out their own successful stud careers.
Acrostar, who has won 6 races with 10 places from 26 starts has earned R618 125.
She was a $340,000 Inglis Easter purchase for James Bester Bloodstock from the Coolmore draft.
Richard Fourie – happy day
She is out of the Iglesia mare Nova Star the winner of the $500,000 Gr1 Queensland Breeders Winter Stakes run over 1400m. She won a total of 7 races from 1000m to a mile.
Nova Star’s sire, the outstanding young Last Tycoon stallion Iglesia (ex Yodells, by Marscay) was euthanised in 2006 at the age of just 11.
Iglesia was Queensland’s Champion First Season Sire in 2004-05 and he had made a rapid impact on the Australian breeding scene.
A half-brother to dual Gr1 winner Yippyio, Iglesia was the most expensive stallion standing in Queensland that season, with his fee set at $22,000.
Acrostar will make for a sought after paddock prospect!
