Former shuttle stallions Showcasing (Haunui Farm) and Mastercraftsman (Windsor Park Stud) sired Group One winners in Europe last weekend, and fortunately their legacy lives on in New Zealand through their many sons and daughters.
Two-year-old colt Advertise (Showcasing) continued his fine run of form backing up his second in the Gr.2 Coventry Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot, and his last start win in the Gr.2 July Stakes (1200m) at Newmarket, with an impressive win in the Gr.1 Phoenix Stakes (1200m) at The Curragh.
Importantly for Showcasing, Advertise became his first Group One winning son after multiple Group One winning filly Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing) claimed the mantle of his first elite level winner in 2016.
Showcasing ended the 2017/2018 Southern Hemisphere season as New Zealand’s leading sire of two-year-old winners with a total of 8 winners from 13 starters including three stakes winners – Xpression, Bit Lippy and Atenartin - and stakes performer She’s A Thief. He has two further crops to come in New Zealand – current yearlings and foals of 2018 – and his continued success will ensure they are highly sought after at sales throughout Australasia.
Meanwhile, Alpha Centauri (Mastercraftsman) confirmed herself as one of the outstanding three-year-old fillies of recent years with another Group One success in France on Sunday.
The Mastercraftsman filly bagged her fourth successive Group One of the year when putting in a supreme performance to take the Prix Jacques Le Marois (1600m) by two and a half lengths.
Trained by Jessica Harrington for owner-breeders the Niarchos family, Alpha Centauri has also tasted victory in this season’s Gr.1 Irish 1,000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.1 Coronation Stakes (1600m) and Gr.1 Falmouth Stakes (1600m).
"She's an amazing filly. I must admit, bringing her here to take on colts and older horses, I thought I must be mad,” said Harrington. “But then again, I felt we might as well keep her going and it was a fantastic performance.”
Mastercraftsman has sired nine individual Group One winners including New Zealand Group One winners Thee Auld Floozie, Saint Emilion and Valley Girl.
The former Windsor Park Stud shuttle stallion has sired 5.8% Stakes winners to runners world wide.