Winning G1 races in England, France, Australia and New Zealand made him a genuine champion

Five-time winner at the elite level and a member of the New Zealand and Queensland Racing Halls of Fame, the chestnut, Starcraft was bred by Waikato Stud and sold by the Matamata nursery at Karaka in 2002 for $80,000 to the bid of Rob Dawe. He was a son of Soviet Star and three-time Broodmare of the Year Flying Floozie and was raced by the late Paul Makin in Queensland.

During the mid-2000s, Starcraft gained fame in both Hemispheres, first as the champion Australian three-year-old of 2003-04 season, and the following year as champion sprinter in New Zealand. The racing industry were compelled to acknowledge the emergence of this Queensland-based contender when he arrived on the scene at Flemington having achieved consecutive victories in three 1600m races at Doomben and Eagle Farm (maiden, Class 3, Class 6) and then subsequently dominating the Melbourne three-year-olds in the Group Three Debonair, with Elvstroem among the defeated competitors. The robust chestnut demonstrated that his Debonair triumph was not a mere coincidence, engaging in a rigorous contest with the exceptionally gifted and unbeaten Reset until the very end of a fiercely competitive Australian Guineas. He achieved Group One victories against seasoned competitors in the Chipping Norton and against his contemporaries in the Australian Derby. Upon his return from the Derby, he emerged victorious against the formidable New Zealand mare Miss Potential in the Group One Mudgway at Hastings.

Although securing a Cox Plate victory would have solidified Starcraft's legacy, he unfortunately fell short, with Savabeel and Fields Of Omagh surpassing him for third place in 2004. However, owner Paul Makin harboured even more ambitious goals, venturing into the international arena in 2005 and taking the horse to the Northern Hemisphere. This culminated in remarkable Group One triumphs in the prestigious Prix Du Moulin (1600m) at Longchamp and Queen Elizabeth Stakes II (1600m) at Ascot with Christophe Lemaire assuming the reins under the guidance of new trainer Luca Cumani. Starcraft's international achievements, coupled with the compelling narrative of an underdog challenging the European industry giants presents a compelling case for recognition.

His defining achievement came in 2006 as the first New Zealand-bred horse to win at Group one level in Europe when he claimed the Prix du Moulin in Paris for trainer Luca Cumani and subsequently the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth ll, comfortably defeating Dubawi. Starcraft was initially prepared by Gary Newham and posted Group One victories in the Australian Derby (2400m) and Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m). He made his mark in his homeland and was narrowly denied a clean sweep of the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival features in New Zealand. He was successful in the Gr.1 Hawke’s Bay Mudgway Partsworld Stakes (1400m) and the Gr.2 Stoney Bridge Stakes (1600m) before finishing a close second in the Gr.1 Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m).

Starcraft began the second phase of his career at Arrowfield Stud before relocating to Rosemont Stud where he passed away. He sired G1 winners We Can Say It Now and Star Witness, (who stood at stud), as are grandsons Graff and Star Turn. To date, Starcraft has produced 350 winners with 20 of those at stakes level.

RACE RECORD - 22: 11-3-4

EARNINGS - £1,289,010 (A$3,081,215)

The Debonair (2004)

Tulloch Stakes (2004)

Australian Derby (2004)

Chipping Norton Stakes (2004)

Mudgway Stakes (2004)

Stoneybridge Stakes (2004)

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (2005)

Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (2005)

Australian Champion Three Year Old (2004)