New Zealand breeders will be feeling good about having the services of Stravinsky back at Cambridge Stud this season after a week that saw plenty of promising types in action by the G1 winner.

There were none more so than the winning duo of Sun Trooper (4g Stravinsky x Exotic Dancer, by Slavic) and Our Lucky Baby (4g Stravinsky x Meranti, by Woodman), who both scored stunning victories in Hong Kong on Wednesday night.

Sun Trooper scored his fourth victory in as many starts for jockey Zac Purton, all of them over 1000m on the Happy Valley turf course. But without a doubt his last effort was the most definitive, and the fastest, recording a time of 57.14s in the three and a half length romp.

His feat was made the more impressive by the fact that he adapted to sit off the fast pace set by Thunder Flash (Secret Savings), showing the versatility of the speedster who had lead at his previous three starts.

Trained by Almond Lee, Sun Trooper was a $110,000 purchase at this year’s Karaka Premier Sale.  His dam Exotic Dancer is a half sister to G2 Sha Tin Vase winner Able Attempt and Listed winner Zaza, with his immediate family also producing G1 winners Tristanagh and Dupain.  Four races later, Our Lucky Baby recorded his third victory in a row, leading all the way to hold his rivals at bay by the barest of margins. He was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for $80,000 as a yearling from the 2006 Karaka Premier Sale. He is currently raced by the Super Diamond Syndicate for whom he has won HK$1,806,000 to date.

Stravinsky returns to Cambridge Stud after missing the previous two seasons due to the restrictions of Equine Influenza in Australia. His return has been much anticipated due to his success in Australasia and across Asia where his versatility has been shown in his ability to leave G1 winning precocious juveniles like Keeninsky through to G1 winning Classic fillies like Serenade Rose.

Cambridge Stud principal, Sir Patrick Hogan, is very pleased to have Stravinsky available again this season.  “The New Zealand Industry has missed him a lot. He sires winners at all ages, with both sexes, over a range of distances, and on tracks located on all racing continents.” Sir Patrick said.  “His versatility is attractive to buyers in the sale ring and to broodmare owners who have noted that Stravinsky has sired 55 stakes winners from a wide range of mares, both on pedigree and type.”  “I look forward to Stravinsky’s arrival in the spring and, going on his large number of bookings thus far, so are Australasian breeders.”

Stravinsky will stand the 2009 season at Cambridge Stud for a service fee of $35,000 inc gst  with a live foal guarantee.  His book will be limited to 110 mares.