NEW ZEALAND RECORD TIME FOR ASTARA

Smiles all round yesterday when Astara won the Listed Co Op Auckland Taxi's Champagne Stakes. Trainers Chris Gibbs and Donna Logan were over the moon. To win by such a margin in a time of 1.34.32, a new NZ race record time that was previously held by Fast Dragon who ran 1.36.07 in 2013 over 1600m for 2 year olds. Nick Smith and family from Brighthill Stud were beaming at the result and represented the owner Neven Botica who also owns the Sire of Astara, Dalghar , that stands at Brighthill. This was Dalghar's first Stakes winner , a fantastic result for a new Sire. Neven is very excited about the future of this very good filly and other progeny of Dalghar that are about to hit the tracks.

Photo is of Astara with strapper Leighton Richardson leading in his first Black Type winner.

Read the attached Informant article

http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing/LI51075/Astara-breaks-records-with-dominant-Champagne-Stakes-win