Leading Queensland breeder Peter Moran has been one of Mossman’s staunchest supporters at stud since the son of Success Express retired to Vinery.

After several near-misses, Mossman sired his first G1 winner when Ofcourseican continued her rise to the top in the prestigious Coolmore Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.

Further up the NSW north coast, Moran’s little-known homebred Stardust Dancer sired his first winner at Port Macquarie on Saturday.  He is another son of Success Express at stud, albeit in a different league to the Hunter Valley.

Success Express (    Hold Your Peace) won the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Hollywood Park in 1987 before Robert Holmes a Court imported him to stand in Victoria.

He originally stood at Wallan in what is now a housing estate in Melbourne’s outer northern suburbs.  After the Perth multi-millionaire died in 1991, Success Express moved Trelawney Stud in New Zealand then back to Australia for further stints at Widden Stud and Moran’s own Noble Park Stud at Beaudesert.

Moran pensioned him in 2006, just a year after his Sydney winner Lichen Lady foaled Mossman.  Trained by Clarrie Connors, he won the G1 Castlemaine Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm as a winter two year-old and returned in the spring to claim the G2 AAMI Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

Stardust Dancer didn’t make it to the races and he only covers a handful of mares each year at Natural Bridge Thoroughbreds which is situated south of the Numinbah Valley on the Nerang – Murwillumbah Road.  Studmaster Shaun Mills stands him for an advertised service fee of $3,000.

Locally trained filly Stardust Warrior opened his account in the Skilled Maiden Plate (1112m) at Port Macquarie on Saturday.  She came from last in the five-horse field and, despite racing erratically, got up to win by a head as the $2.40 favourite.

Stardust Warrior (3f Stardust Dancer – Ancient Warrior by Brave Warrior) is owned and trained by Anthony Dable.  She was bred by Mills who paid just $500 for her dam at the 2007 Magic Millions National broodmare sale.

Her dam Ancient Warrior went for next to nothing as part of the Clear Mountain draft.  Her daughter rubbed salt into the wounds by defeating Clear Mountain bred filly Taikun Princess (Tycoon Ruler) at Port Macquarie.

Shaun Mills can be contacted on 0449 838 296 for bookings to Stardust Dancer.