He’s was a rare individual as a top priced yearling who became a high-class racehorse, then a top-rated sire

Darci Brahma is a thoroughbred stallion foaled in 2002 at Pencarrow Stud near Cambridge in New Zealand. He was auctioned at the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales in Jan 2004 and acquired by a syndicate of ten investors for the staggering sum of NZ$1.1 million. He is by the powerful sire Danehill (Danzig), out of the dam Grand Echezeaux (by Zabeel) from Richebourg via Vice Regal.The immediate pedigree, featuring Melbourne Cup winner Ethereal, is one of the most successful & sought after black type families.

Sent to trainer Mark Walker of Te Akau Racing Stables near Matamata as a two-year-old, Darci Brahma quickly established a reputation as a potential star in the making, winning on debut in 2005. The colt followed that up with a strong win in the Listed, Ford Fairview Slipper Stakes at Matamata in February and then ran 2nd to Mi Jubilee in the Gr.1 Sires Produce Stakes at Ellerslie a month later. Darci Brahma was sent to Australia in June 2005 where he contested two races at Eagle Farm, Brisbane, finishing 4th in the Queensland Sire Produce Stakes (1400m) and then winning the Gr.1 T.J Smith (1600m) producing a withering run from last on the turn to win by a length. These performances were sufficient to see Darci Brahma awarded the New Zealand 2yo of the Year Award for 2004/05.

As a 3yo he downed Dr Green in the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m) with Michael Walker aboard in a new Australasian record time of 1:19.97, following this up with further wins in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1500m) in October and the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600 metres) at Riccarton in November, winning this event by four lengths. He then took on the older horses, beating Kristov in the Gr 1 Otaki-Maori WFA (1600m). Darci Brahma then travelled to Australia where he finished a creditable 2nd to Apache Cat in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington and 4th in the Gr.2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.

Darci Brahma started his 4yo campaign in the first two races of the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown, finishing second to eventual Horse Of The Year Seachange in both races. His only other start in that campaign was a sixth in the Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield. Resuming in the summer, Opie Bosson rode Darci Brahma to win the Gr.1 Telegraph Handicap (1200m) at Trentham followed by the Gr.1 Waikato Sprint (1400m), giving the stallion a total of five Group 1 wins in his career. Days after his Waikato Draught Sprint win Darci Brahma injured himself in a workout and was retired. He went on to have an incredibly success Stud career, morphing into an unsung stallion hero following a decorated racing career. He has sired multiple stakes and Group winners in Hong Kong, Singapore, NZ, and Australia. His Gr.1 winners include: Nashville (Dual), Recite (Dual), Irish Fling, Julinsky Prince (Dual), Super Easy (Singapore), Risqué, Gust Of Wind, (Australia) DB Pin (Hong Kong), Devise, Catalyst, Kahma Lass, Sierra Sue and Artistic.

RACE RECORD -19: 10-5-0

EARNINGS - $1.23 Million

G1 The T J Smith (2005)

G2 Hawke's Bay Guineas (2005)

G2 Wellington Guineas (2005)

G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (2005)

G1 Otaki-Maori Weight for Age (2005)

G1 Waikato Sprint (2007)

G1 Telegraph Handicap (2007)

NZ 2yo horse of the Year 2004/2005

NZ 3yo horse of the Year 2005/2006

4yo Mercedes Champion sprinter