Starcraft mare Stella Lante will be given a chance to break through at black-type level after winning the Holdfast Insurance Hcp (1300m) at Morphettville on Saturday.

“She’s been stakes-placed five times,” trainer John Hyam said.  “We might try Melbourne and then head to the Tasmanian carnival.  She’s had feet issues but we haven’t had any problems this campaign.”

Stella Lante (5m Starcraft – Villa Lante by Filante) was due to be covered by It’s A Dundeel this season but that planned mating has been deferred.  She has earned over $250,000 for a syndicate headed by breeders Alistair and Patricia McFarlane.

Her sire Starcraft transferred to Rosemont Stud earlier this year and is covering his first Victorian book for an $11,000 (inc gst) service fee.  “He’s such a stunning individual,” Rosemont owner Anthony Mithen said of the 14 year-old stallion.  “There were more than 50 of his yearlings at all the top sales earlier this year and they averaged $70,000.”

Starcraft has a long stud career ahead if he’s inherited the longevity of his own sire Soviet Star who passed away in Ireland recently aged 30.

Soviet Star (Nureyev) won at Group 1 level in the French 2000 Guineas, Sussex Stakes, Prix de la Foret, July Cup and Prix du Moulin for Sheikh Mohammed.  He became the only colt to beat the mighty Miesque in the Prix du Moulin.

Soviet Star stood northern seasons at Dalham Hall in Newmarket and Japan and also stood a one-off NZ season at Ra Ora Stud in 1999.  Starcraft was from that single Kiwi crop and he was a five-time Group 1 winner in NZ, Australia, England and France where he emulated his sire in the 2005 Prix du Moulin at Longchamp.

The Gold Coast Magic Millions in January has 10 Starcraft yearlings going under the hammer starting with the colt from Biancalaura (Lot 110).  He is from a wining half-sister to the dam of Easy Rocking and Fairy King Prawn.