A largely unheralded southern import upstaged his blue-blooded rivals in the Friday’s Group2 Alabar Elsu Classic at Alexandra Park
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It was expected to be a battle of the big guns; Smiling Shard, Sir Lincoln, Kotare Mach et al. It was a brave son of Four Starzzz Shark who proved too tough in the end, despite being posted three-wide without cover for most of the last lap.
There was some controversy after the race -- contested at a distance of 2,200 metres, or one and three-eighths miles -- as Maurice McKendry missed the call-up behind the mobile due to the noise from a helicopter hovering overhead nearby. The owners of Sir Lincoln expressed their displeasure at the situation too.
Regardless of the happenings in the sky over Auckland, Four Starzzz Flash showed he was a brawler, a street fighter, as he sat outside Smiling Shard for the last portion of the race and was able to wear him down.
It was his second win from three starts at northern headquarters but by far his most important. Four Starzzz Flash has just recently transferred to the Purdon & Phelan stable at Clevedon after being earlier developed well by part-owner Kevin Chapman. Regular driver Coin De Filippi stuck with the ship though. De Filippi has been on board the horse for all six of his wins.
The $32,500 winner’s purse took Four Starzzz Flash’s earning past $75,000. Unfortunately for connections he is not eligible for the rich PGG Wrightson 3YO Open on 31 December.
The amazing thing about this story is that Four Starzzz Flash is one of only three foals conceived by frozen semen down under. Four Starzzz Shark is completing his second season of stud duty at David James' Empire Stallions, Arcadia, Victoria Australia. Four Starzzz Shark has served full books of over two-hundred mares each of the past two seasons.
(With files from Harness Racing New Zealand)