| Luskin Star was
put down aged rising 28 in early July due to the onset off severe arthritis which was
compromising his quality of life and had been retired from active stud service a couple of
seasons ago. Luskin Star was bred by Jim O’Neill
at Luskintyre Stud in Maitland NSW. He was the first foal of Promising (her only colt as
she went on to produce 6 fillies) and a member of Kaoru Star’s third crop.
Kaoru Star was to go on to sire stakeswining racehorses and
sires Aurealis, Marceau, Marquee Star, Golden Slipper winner and sire Full On Aces, Group
1 winning sire Mighty Avalanche and multiple Group 1 winner Planet Ruler.
Luskin Star was consigned to the 1976 Easter yearling sales
but was shunned as prospective buyers due to his off foreleg being turned out. Passed in
for $6,500 with a reserve of $8,000 he was later purchased by trainer Max Lees for stable
clients Mr & Mrs J
Balcomb, D Ninnes and BE Barnett.
Luskin Star came to hand early and was galloping
sensationally at Newcastle before winning a local trial. Heading to Sydney he won his
official trial then lined up in the second division of the Breeders Plate at Randwick on
October 2 1976. He settled in third position before asked for his effort turning for home
where he bounded away from the opposition to win by 12 lengths eased up.
He then lined up in the Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill
over 900m. Fourth in running he raced away in the straight to win by 4 ½ lengths
but didn’t seem comfortable on the slow rated track. Spelled for the autumn Luskin
Star returned to win a Newcastle barrier trial before taking on star filly Mistress Anne
in the Northern Slipper Stakes on his home track. In the heavy conditions Mistress Anne
was too good for the resuming Luskin Star, who powered home late, winning by ¾ lengths.
Finally racing on a dry track in the Todman Slipper Trial
Luskin Star settled 7th of the 15 runners before moving to 5th on the turn before racing
away to win by 3 ½ lengths. Despite his ability Luskin Star shared favouritism for the
Golden Slipper with the outstanding TJ Smith trained Blazing Saddles with Mistress Anne
also in the field. Luskin Star settled in 9th place in the 16 horse field while Blazing
Saddles led Mistress Anne. On straightening Mistress Anne briefly hit the lead but Blazing
Saddles came again as Luskin Star moved to third. Blazing Saddles looked set to go on to
victory but then Luskin Star hit top speed and powered past to win untroubled by 7 lengths
in race record time.
Luskin Star then went on to the 1400m AJC Sires Produce
where he went straight to the front. Challenged by Bold Zest in the straight Luskin Star
fought back to draw away to win by 3 lengths. A week later he went on to the 1600m
Champagne Stakes and again he led and again he raced away when challenged this time by
Marceau. Luskin Star won by six lengths from Marceau with Bold Zest third. While most 2yos
now would go for a spell Luskin Star then headed to the Brisbane carnival. As the odds on
favourite Luskin Star won the QTC Sires Produce by length from Pacific Prince with a
further 7 lengths to the third place horse. Nine days later he lined up in the Marlboro
Stakes and under pressure from Gypsy Kingdom shifted ground in the closing stages but held
on to win by two lengths. The rider of Gypsy Kingdom protested but it was soon dismissed
and Luskin Star headed for a spell. Luskin Star raced before the Group system was in place
and the big races were known as principal races. Had he raced now as a 2yo Luskin Star
would have recorded 5 Group 1 victories in one preparation.
Returning to racing Luskin Star had no luck in running in
the Canterbury Stakes where Romantic Dream got through on the rails and Luskin Star
changed course in the straight to find a clear run out wide. Storming home he was defeated
by a nose on the slow track. Ten days later Luskin Star lined up in the Cameron Hcp
at Newcastle and won easily by two lengths from Romantic Dream.
Luskin Star then went to Melbourne where he lined up in the
Caulfield Guineas. Despite stargazing during the run Luskin Star held off the late finish
of Princess Talaraia to win by a half length. He then went into the Cox Plate over 2050m a
distance he was untried over but carrying only 48.5kg under the weight for age conditions.
Drawn wide Luskin Star went forward and sat with the leaders for much of the race. In the
final stages though the distance told and Luskin Star failed to stay finishing 9th as
Family Of Man raced to victory. Soon after it was announced that Luskin Star was sold to R
Sangster and the Thoroughbred International P/L and when he returned for the autumn he was
in the stable of Bart Cummings.
First up Luskin Star won hard held by 1 ¼ lengths from
Always Welcome in the Expressway Stakes. He then lined up in the Phar Lap Stakes over
1500m and was under pressure to win by ¾ length from an outsider. Luskin Star was then
tried over 1850m in the Tulloch Stakes and was outstayed by Lefroy defeated by a half
length. Instead of continuing to the Australasian Champion Stakes Luskin Star was dropped
back to the 1100m Galaxy. He subsequently treated his rivals with distain winning by three
lengths.
Luskin Star was then retired to Newhaven Park Stud after
being syndicated for a then Australian record amount standing at a fee of $8000. His first
crop raced in 1981 and produced his first stakeswinner in Lover winning the VATC Debutante
Stakes at Caulfield. Members of that first crop included Paint The Stars who made a record
$825,000 as a yearling then made headlines due to his lack of form as a racehorse. Retired
to stud he was later a successful sire. Fiesta Star (sire) and Colour Chart (dam of Group
1 winner Paint) were members of that first crop along with stakeswinners Covetous (later a
sire of St Covet, With Me, Chalayer, Star Covet, etc), Corona Miss, etc.
Members of his second crop included stakeswinners La
Caissiere,
Lotka’s Star, Nouvelle Star and Worth and this was the start of the renowned success
of Luskin Star mares both as racehorses and at stud with another member of this crop
Mahogany Isle producing French Resort.
Other Luskin Star fillies include Bold Promise
(stakeswinning 2yo who produced Merlene, Compulsion and Miss Pennymoney), Midnight Fever
(Group 1 winner at 2 years), Mother Duck, Postage Due, Shackle, Startling Lass (dam of
Platonic), Artistic Princess (dam of Hockney), Ginseng (dam of Minegold), Hospitable (dam
of Fubu) and Settler’s Cove (dam of Kidman’s Cove) plus Sudden Impulse dam of
Strategic and Clang.
Colts sired by Luskin Star include NZ Group 1 winner Flying
Luskin, Nick’s Joy (Group 1 Epsom), Rise ‘n’ Shine (stakeswinner), Swiftly
Carson (stakeswinners) and Bruskin winner of the Great Eastern Steeplechase at Oakbank.
Luskin Star raced 17 times for 13 wins and three seconds
earning $280,900 in prizemoney. At stud he has sired stakeswinners from 1000m to 3200m
plus the Great Eastern over 4950m and through his sons and especially daughters his
bloodlines should live on for many years yet. |
