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Prominent owner Sean Buckley has confirmed Group 1 winning mares Culminate and Dane Julia have been retired following their latest campaigns with the pair commencing broodmare duties this spring where they are booked for appointments with Star Witness.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Raced by Sean Buckley, CEO and owner of Ultra Tune, Culminate and Dane Julia will go to Star Witness this spring who Buckley also has a substantial share in.
“I am delighted to be sending these quality mares to Star Witness who appears a very promising stallion boasting Group 1 form in both the Southern and Northern Hemisphere,” Buckley said.
The foals of both mares are expected to be highly sought after if Buckley elects to offer the pair at yearling sales during the 2013/14 season.
Both Culminate and Dane Julia exit racing with strong career records which boast a diverse range of Group 1 results.
Buckley acquired each of the mares following strong international performances by Culminate and Dane Julia in New Zealand and South Africa.
A winner of the 2009 Group 1 Otaki Maori (1600m), Culminate is the best performed of the pair since racing in Australia winning the 2010 Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and also finishing runner-up behind Typhoon Tracy during the 2009 Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m).
Culminate claimed an additional pair of NZ Group 2 wins and eight more stakes level placings with approximate career earnings upwards of $800,000.
Dane Julia was a dual black type winner in Australia taking out both the Listed Wiggle Quality (1400m) and the Listed Summoned Stakes (1500m) during the 2009/2010 season.
The daughter of Caesour won the Group 1 Fillies Classic (1800m) early in her career which commenced in South Africa and the 2009 Group 1 NZB Breeders Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha.
Dane Julia, who is out of Danehill mare Princess Julia leaves racing with over $500,000 in prizemoney earnings.
Star Witness will stand at Widden Stud this spring following a UK campaign which so far has yielded two placings in the King's Stand Stakes and Golden Jubilee Stakes.
The Starcraft colt will contest the Group 1 July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket on July 9 before heading back to Australia where the rising four-year-old will be readied for his first season at stud.
Star Witness has a service fee of $33,000 and is already in demand attracting quality mares which could potentially include champion sprinter Miss Andretti next season.
Miss Andretti this spring could be mated with another of Buckley's stallions in the form 2005 Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Undoubtedly.
