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Arazan | Black Bear Island | Crowded House | Delegator | Evasive | Fame And Glory | Mastercraftsman | Rainbow View | Rip Van Winkle | Sea The Stars | Serious Attitude | Other British runners | Other Irish runners

Mastercraftsman (Danehill Dancer — Starlight Dreams, by Black Tie Affair)

Having won his maiden at the Curragh, Mastercraftsman returned there three more times, notching one Group Two and two Group One races. The Phoenix Stakes over six-furlongs and the National Stakes over seven furlongs are two of the most prestigious two-year-old events in the Irish racing calendar. In the latter event, he battled on gamely in heavy ground, landing the spoils by the narrowest of margins from the game and talented Shaweel. The runner-up went on to finish a close-up fourth in the Dewhurst.

Mastercraftsman had a hard race that day and one would have thought connections would have drawn stumps for the season. However, it was decided to send him for the Grand Criterium at Longchamp on Arc day. Despite travelling easily for five-furlongs, when push came to shove, he weakened tamely to fourth. Leaving the impression that the well had been visited once too often. Intense Focus, who had previously finished behind him on two occasions, was third a neck in front of the Ballydoyle horse. Both the winner and second have been beaten in France this season.

A son of Danehill Dancer, his dam Starlight Dreams has thrown a filly that won a Grade Three over a mile in the U.S.A. last season. Her sire is Black Tie Affair, whose offspring stay ten-furlongs. This leads me to suggest the mile of the 2000 Guineas will suit him well, while he should stay ten-furlongs.

Danehill Dancer progeny winning distances

5-6f 1,000-1,399m	28%
7-8f 1,400-1,799m	51%
9-10f 1,800-2,199m	16%
11-13f 2,200-2,799m	5%
14+f 2,800+m	0%

Source: the-racehorse.com stallion statistics database.