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First Gone For Real to race in New Zealand

Google Me by Gone For Real out of Promesa (by Alzao) became the first horse by Gone For Real to race in New Zealand when he made his debut on Boxing Day at Ellerslie over 1400m. Google Me missed the jump and found himself last out of the gates in what was described by the press as a strong field. Despite the slow start Google Me made up good ground weaving his way through the field to finish 8th of 15 beaten by just 4 lengths. He is pictured below second from right on the rail. Google Me looks like a handy miler in the making who may just go a bit further.

The first Indy King foals have arrived

Colt by Indy King ex Foxy Boss foal at 7 days

Indy King filly ex Partition.

Filly by Indy King ex Colmerino (half sister to SW Figure of Speech)

Wavy Lass bursts through for win number 13  (Nov 2011)

Helmsman's tough daughter Wavy Lass continued on her winning ways when getting up to win a hard fought victory over Soul Patch in a 6 furlong claiming race run at Golden Gate. A winner of three races and stakes placed at two years, Wavy Lass has trained on to win another ten races through to age seven. Wavy Lass is now a winner of 13 of her 47 lifetime starts.

Sax Notes brings up 17th career win  (November 2011)

Sax Notes made it three wins in a row when this season when notching up his 17th career victory over an Allowance field over 6 furlongs. The now eight year old gelding by Helmsman has registered wins every season from three years through to eight years bringing his tally to 17 wins from 62 lifetime starts.

Full Power Ahead makes it powers home for 13th win (Sept 2011)

When Full Power Ahead (by Helmsman) came home ahead of the field at Hawthorn he was registering his forth win of the season and 13th career win. The seven year old gelding has proved to be a consistent performer since he made his debut as a 2 year old back in 2006 when he won two from five and was stakes placed. Full Power Ahead boasts 13 wins from 48 starts to date. 

I Am The King adds to tally (Sept 2011)

I Am The King the big rangy gelding son of Indy King added to his growing tally of wins when annexing an Allowance race run over a mile at Penn National. The victory brought up his eighth career win from 24 appearnces which includes a 4th in the listed Christmas Stakes.

Dalacine Farm bred Planet wins opening race of new Hong Kong Season

The very first race of the new Hong Kong racing season was won on the weekend by the Dalacine Farm bred Planet (Gold Mine ex Fairy Floss by Spinning World).

Dalacine Farms Dal Rommel wins his third race in six weeks in Australia

                                                                              September 2011

Dalacine Farm bred Dal Rommel (by Desert Fox) romped home to record his third win in a space of six weeks. Dal Rommel is seen winning over 2100m at Wyong on 1 September.Since stepping up to a mile Dal Rommel has won three races and placed second since July 28. Dal Rommel is the first foal of his dam Be Em Cee a daughter of Faltaat.

Pleasant Prince wins Pot O Luck Stakes (July 2011)

One of the leading 3 year olds in the USA in 2010 Pleasant Prince has trained on to become a stakes winner at 4 years. Pleasant Prince stepped out at Belmont Park for the Pot O Luck Stakes run over a mile and a sixteenth (1700m). The result was never in doubt, Pleasant Prince came home in fine style winning by four and a half lengths. Pleasant Prince is being prepped for the Breeders Cup Marathon to be run in November.

Preppy Pilot lands 12th victory (July 2011)

Preppy Pilot the versatile sprinting son of Helmsman landed his 12th career victory over 4 and a half furlongs at Los Alamitos. The eight year old has lost none of the dash which has seen him contest mixed Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred races at Los Alamitos race course. Preppy Pilot is a winner of 12 from 57 raceday starts. 

Guiding Hand keeps on giving (June 2011)

Guiding Hand upholds the record by the stock of Helmsman to train on and on. The eight year old scored his second win of the season when he took out an Allowance race over a mile at Prarie Meadows. The stakes winning son of Helmsman has been a model of consistency and has a record of 14 wins from 57 lifetime starts.

Starboardlights hits the boards  (June 2011)

The five year old Helmsman gelding Starboardlights follwed up his facile last start victory by stepping up to stakes company for the first time in the Jess Jackson Owners Handicap over 5 furlongs at Santa Rosa. Starboardlights is a winner of 3 races from 12 starts and now stakes placed. 

Mindy Queen wins notches up win number 10  (March 2011)

Mindy Queen  made an impressive return to racing on her seasonal debut when recording her 10th victory over 6 furlongs at Hawthorn. Leading from the start Mindy Queen came home under a hands and heels ride over stakes winner Katleen L to win by two and a half lengths. Mindy Queen is now a winner of 10 of her 16 raceday starts. 

Shawhan Select wins his fifth race of the season in style  (Nov 2010)

Shawhan Select a three year old son of Indy King has had a busy season contesting 17 races. In his most recent start at Laurel Park Shawhan Select strolled to an effortless 5 1/4 length victory over a competitive field over one mile. A winner over 5 furlongs as a 2 year old Shawhan Select has trained on winning five times as 3 year old up to a mile.

Pleasant Prince to run in Breeders Cup Classic (November 2010)

Pleasant Prince will race against a high class field of Group One horses including the unbeaten Zenyatta when he contests the Breeders Cup Classic (GR1). Regardless of where he finishes in the race Pleasant Prince can now be considered to be on of the very best horses in training in the USA. At the start of the season Pleasant Prince began as a humble winner of a maiden2 year old event. How far he has progressed in a busy season , which included a tilt at the triple crown, is evident by his entry in the most prestigious race oof the Breeders Cup carnival. With Zenyatta bidding to anex a second Breeders Cup Classic and attempt to stretch her sequence of victories to 20 undefeated Pleasant Prince will play a part in the lore of American racing on Saturday. 

 Pleasant Prince wins another Derby        (October 2010)

Pleasant Prince continues to fashion an enviable record in American Derbies this season. His most recent victory in the USA$400 000 Oklahoma Derby drew attention to his record in regional derbies going back to March when he was beaten a whisker in the GR1 Florida Derby by subsequent Kentucky Derby runner up Ice Box. Given a rest after an exhaustive Triple Crown bid Pleasant Prince returned to winning form when he took out the GR3 Ohio Derby on July31. Pleasant Prince followed up with a third placing in the listed Smarty Jones Stakes before resuming his "derby" ways in winning the Oklahoma Derby on October 10 by an ever widening four lengths.

Cayambe yet another stakes winner for Helmsman !   (September 2010)

Cayambe has built steadily towards breaking through for his first stakes win this season. Following his first foray into stakes territory when he ran 6th in the Robert K Kerlan Memorial Handicap Caymbe next ran third in the listed Del Mar California Dreaming Handicap before starting and winning the listed Fairplex Ralph M Hinds Handicap over 1800m. Cayambe is now a winner of 9 races and over US$360 000 in stakes. Helmsman has now sired 9 individual stakes winners (4% SW to runners) of which three are restricted stakes winners as well as another 13 stakes placed horses from only 222 progeny to race.

Indy King arrives in New Zealand! August 2010

Indy King arrived into quarantine on Sunday 8 August at 4pm in Auckland. He has ettled in well and will be on Dalacine Farm on Sunday 22 August. We hope to have an open day on Sunday the 29th from 1pm - 3pm where both Indy King and Helmsman will be on display. This will be held at our new property at 98 Rauwaka Road Palmerston North, situated between Palmerston North and Ashhurst off State Highway 3. 

Restless Youth breaks through for Stakes Win !  July 2010

The smart sprinter Restless Youth a son of Helmsman gave notice of a stakes winning performance earlier when he ran fourth in the California Sprint Championship. In the listed Pleasanton Sam J Whiting Memorial H Restless Youth confirmed his stakes ability with a facile victory over a good field of turf sprinters including Paul's Hope a graded stakes horse. Resless Youth has now won 10 races and $351 642 in stakes.

Cayambe puts in a huge performance    (June 2010)

The progressive Helmsman horse Cayambe made a good debut in stakes company when running a close 6th in the Robert K Kerlan Memorial Handicap over 1200m run on the turf at Holywood Park. Beaten 3 1/4 lengths by the winner My Summer Slew he was only 1 1/4 lengths behind the international Australian sprinter Scenic Blast. Second in the race was Stoneside a GR1 winner in France.

Mindy Queen reigns in Prairie Rose Stakes  (May 2010)

Mindy Queen underlined her versatility with a convincing victory in the listed Prairie Rose Stakes over 1200m. An Oaks winner in Canada last season Mindy Queen followed up on her good second in the listed Wishing Well Stakes also run over 1200m on her seasonal debut in January. The victory in the Prairie Rose Stakes was Mindy Queen's win number 9 from only 14 starts.

Supah Prince makes it three in succession !  (May 2010)                    

Supah Prince kept his record over a mile or beyond intact registering his third win from five lifetime starts in an Allowance race over one mile at Philadelphia Park. The 3 year old son of Indy King  looks to have a bright future ahead of him and could next be seen in stakes company. Supah Prince won with authority over stakes placed Sinners Repent.

New Stallion for Dalacine Farm !!                                                                                                                      (January 2010)

 Dalacine Farm has secured the Bold Ruler line stallion Indy King as a replacement Gone For Real who died last year. In keeping with the studs philosophy to stand proven sires Indy King is a young sire, eleven years old today, showing considerable promise with only three crops of racing age.

Indy King a US $2.2 million yearling was unraced due to injury. He is a son of the acclaimed champion sire and emerging sire of sires A.P. Indy out of Queena the champion multiple Group One winning daughter of Mr Prospector. Indy King hails from a prolific family and is the half brother to multiple Group One winner and successful sire Brahms.

Indy King has got off to a flying start with his first three crops to race in the USA. From only 20 foals in his first crop Indy King has sired stakes winner Indy Joe as well as champion Central American 2 year old filly, Su Majestad. Indy Kings second crop totaling only 35 foals produced the smart stakes winner Mindy Queen, winner of 8 of 12 career starts to date including an Oaks by 9 ¼ lengths in Canada. In addition to Mindy Queen his second crop has also yielded the Group One placed two year old Panhandler and Indycency a winner of five races (four in succession). Indy King has sired 4 individual two year old winners from just 11 starters in his third crop including the promising Pleasant Prince and debut winner Shawhan Select. With just three small crops of racing age Indy King has sired 55 starters for 35 individual winners.

A.P. Indy a son of the legendry Seattle Slew has made a huge impact as a sire of sires in the USA and on the international scene. His sire sons in the USA making headlines are Pulpit, Malibu Moon and Mineshaft who are bred on the identical A.P. Indy x Mr Prospector cross as Indy King. Amongst the first sons of A.P Indy to venture south of the equator to take up stud duties were Indygo Shiner and the ill fated Camden Park who have had phenomenal success in Argentina and South Africa. The best known son of A.P. Indy to represent him in Australasia is champion racehorse Berardini who shuttles to Darley Australia in the Hunter Valley. Hailed as the successor to Northern Dancer and Mr Prospector A.P. Indy has revived the fortunes of the Bold Ruler line and his sons out of daughters of Mr Prospector look certain to become the natural outcross for the plethora of Northern Dancer line mares in the broodmare population at large.

Grant Irvines Dalacine Farm is fortunate to have secured a sire prospect as exciting as Indy King for New Zealand. With every major stud farm in the USA wanting to stand at least one son or grandson of A.P. Indy Dalacine Farm had to stave off a determined bid by other interested parties to secure Indy King. The regally bred Indy King has made an impressive start at stud with relatively small books of mares off a low service fee. A stallion of size and substance he has proven that he can produce speedy stakes winners of both sexes and horses that can win at 2 years and train on to become graded stakes and classic performers at three years. Indy King had a dream start when Indy Joe his first 2 year old runner won on debut over 6 furlongs by 7 ¼ lengths and has since gone on to become a stakes winner and graded stakes horse at 3 years.

Indy King has a pedigree which dovetails nicely with the New Zealand broodmare population. His sire A.P. Indy is a half brother former shuttle sire Honor Grades and to Summer Squall the sire of Postponed, their dam the blue hen Weekend Surprise, a daughter of Secretariat, is inbred to the marvelous Somethingroyal. These pedigree connections set Indy King up to be a particularly suited for mares with Sir Tristram blood in their makeup. Being Northern Dancer free too makes him an ideal outcross particularly for mares by Danehill or his sons. Importantly his sire A.P. Indy and his sire sons are also producing turf winners of the highest class worldwide with A.P. Indy himself responsible for three individual Group One winners amongst his turf performers. Indy King is a proven young sire allowing local breeders access to the worlds best bloodlines at an affordable service fee. Indy King has been leased to Richwine Farm to serve one last season in the USA before taking up duties in New Zealand in 2010

Yet another Stakes Horse for HELMSMAN !!                                                ( July 2009 )

Inspiration Within became HELMSMANS eighteenth stakes performer when running third in the listed Solano Vacaville Handicap on July 25. A winner of 4 races to date Inspiration Within is out of What an Inspiration a daughter of the obscure sire Fool of Fools.

R.I.P GONE FOR REAL                                                                                    ( 9 June 2009)

Dalacine Farm is saddened to report the sudden and unexpected death of foundation sire GONE FOR REAL on Sunday morning. GONE FOR REAL suffererd a fatal intestinal rupture.

The passing of GONE FOR REAL is a blow to fledgling stud Dalacine Farm. "GONE FOR REAL was due to serve his biggest and best book of mares to date in New Zealand this season. Recent additions to the Dalacine broodmmare band specifically selected to be served by GONE FOR REAL included mares by highly successful broodmare sires such as Dehere, Bluebird and Kaapstad. Group One producer Candescent Rags was due to visit GONE FOR REAL this year too. Candescent  is the dam of Group One winner Rags To Riches and has a yearling colt by Darci Brahma destined for Karaka next year" laments stud owner Grant Irvine.

GONE FOR REAL was a clean limbed beautifully balanced horse. An individual of striking quality and flawless temprement GONE FOR REAL bore a striking resemblance to his own sire GONE WEST.

GONE FOR REAL will be represented by two small crops in New Zealand.

GONE FOR REAL'S amazing 2 yr olds strike rate !                                      (October 2008) 

When Millysglo strode to victory in a maiden juvenile event on Saturday October 11 she maintained the impressive strike rate of her sire GONE FOR REAL. As a sire of two year olds GONE FOR REAL has earned a reputation on the New York racing circuit for getting not only debut winners but also 50% winners from 2year old starters. 

GONE FOR REAL'S first New Zealand bred foals arrive !                               (September 2008)

September 8, 2008 will go down as a red letter day for Dalacine Farm. Foundation sire GONE FOR REAL had his first foal born, a flashy chestnut filly, to Fairy Floss a daughter of Spinning World on September 8. Three days later another filly foal was born to Bombay Court the stakes placed daughter of Pompeii Court. To date five foals have been born one of which is a colt out of the Chem mare Abbey Vale. Grant Irvine was on hand to deliver all of the foals so far " naturally we are really excited by the arrival of the first local crop by Gone For Real" says Grant. " I couldn't be happier with the quality of the foals, they have a vitality about them which I have not encountered before with other foals born on the farm, I now understand why he has fashioned such an outstanding record in the USA " enthuses Grant.  

Sons of GONE WEST sire champion 3 year old fillies in Europe and the USA.      (August 2008)

 The victory of  Proud Spell in the GR1 Alabama Stakes confirmed her status as the leading 3 year old  filly in the USA. Proud Spell, a daughter of Proud Citizen (by Gone West) also added the GR1 Kentucky Oaks (1800m) to her impressive resume earlier in the season. Across the Atlantic the three year old Zarkava, a daughter of Zamindar(by Gone West) remains unbeaten and is on track to race in the Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe. Considered by the Aga Khan to be his best filly ever Zarkava has won the Prix De Diane (French Oaks) and the  Poule D’Essai Des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) this season.

Proud Spell + video http://racing.bloodhorse.com/article/46620.htm

Zarkava amazing video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EVoV3NHn7c

 Group One winner Rockdale gives GONE FOR REAL a boost.                                  (June 2008)

The victory by Rockdale, a son of  freshman sire Danroad, in the GR1 TJ Smith was cause for quiet celebration on Dalacine Farm. The broodmare Kiwi Summer a fast two year old by Desert Sun is safely in foal to Gone For Real. Kiwi Summer is an own sister to stakes placed Komplete Kaos, the dam of Rockdale. Purchased privately last year specifically to be served by Gone For Real, the acquisition of Kiwi Summer has proved to be an inspired one for Dalacine Farm. Kiwi Summer traces back to a strong family developed by the Aga Khan and has been responsible for the Breeders Cup Mile winner Kalanisi amongst numerous high class winners.

HELMSMAN generating support from local breeders                                                 (June 2008) 

Interest in Helmsman is growing ahead of the 2008 breeding season. One of the first mares recruited for Helmsman is Mon Cherie (by Straight Strike), a winner of 4 races and dam of graded stakes winner Bashful (by O’Reilly). Well known Central Districts breeder Christopher Grace has booked his Straight Strike mare Paradiso also a winner of 4 races to Helmsman. John Bromley co-owner of Princess Coup has booked New Brew a daughter of Geiger Counter to be served by Helmsman. "We are thrilled to receive enquiries from breeders such as John Bromley and Christopher Grace who consign yearlings to the major sales, this augers well for Helmsmans prospects says stud owner Grant Irvine" . 

GONE FOR REAL  achieves 100 % strike rate from last two foal crops to race !      (Dec 2007)

Despite his very small foal crops Gone For Real continues to compile incredible results. From his last two foal crops to race born in 2003 and 2004 Gone For Real has produced 100 % winners to runners including the smart filly Gone Goodbye a winner of four races. Gone Goodbye from 10 lifetime starts has won or placed in eight races including 3rd in the listed  Belmont NY Stallion Cupecoy's Joy Stakes and the New York Stalions Stakes (restricted stakes race).