Rosemont Stud resident Starcraft has sired his first two year-old winner of the season and he did it in style thanks to a five-length runaway by Hover at Trentham.

Hover (2g Starcraft – Hot Stash by Secret Savings) won the Marky Mark 2YO Cup (1200m) for New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock and owners Noel & Ron Stanley.  “They’ve been my longest standing clients and we’ve had a terrific run together with horses like Grout, Wahid and Woburn,” Sharrock said on Saturday.  “This bloke looks like being a pretty tidy pony for the boys.”

The Starcraft gelding was making a fresh start on a slow track at Trentham after finishing runner-up on debut in the spring.  “He went seriously shin sore after his first run so we put him aside and he’s still got some developing to do,” Sharrock said.  “I had a fair hunch he would handle the ground today because he beat The Neon Icon when I galloped them on a wet track earlier this season.”

Hover cost $32,5000 at the 2014 NZB Karaka Select Sale and is the first foal of Randwick winner Hot Stash.  Second dam Abeel Hostess (Zabeel) won 5 races in Sydney and was stakes placed in the LR Tattersall’s Club Cup.

Sharrock said he will target the LR Castletown Stakes at Foxton and he also mentioned the Wanganui Guineas as a long-term goal for the spring.

Starcraft (NZ) transferred to Rosemont Stud from the Hunter Valley last year and he nearly nailed a Group 3 juvenile winner on Saturday when Petracca was beaten a neck in the SA Sires’ Produce Stakes at Morphettville.

Rosemont stood him for $11,000 (inc gst) and that appeared good value after his yearlings sold to $300,000 at the Melbourne Premier last month.

HOVER