AROF

Copyright: Australian Racing Museum Collection

Luskin Star was bred for speed. His sire, Kaoru Star, won 13 sprint races. His grand sire, Star Kingdom, was one of the greatest speed horses ever to stand at stud in Australia.

Biography

TRAINER: Max Lees

OWNERS: Mr & Mrs John Balcomb, Barry Barnett, Don Ninnes, Robert Sangster, Brien Maher, Albert Millson, Monty Millson

RACE RECORD/STAKE MONEY: 17 starts: 13 wins, 3 seconds, 0 thirds/$279,600

Major Wins 

  • AJC Breeders' Plate (1976)
  • Silver Slipper Stakes (1976)
  • Golden Slipper Stakes (1977)
  • AJC Sires' Produce Stakes (1977)
  • Champagne Stakes (1977)
  • QTC Sires' Produce Stakes (1977)
  • Caulfield Guineas (1977)
  • Expressway Stakes (1978)
  • Phar Lap Stakes (1978)
  • The Galaxy (1978)
  • Todman Slipper Trial (1977)
  • QTC Marlboro Stakes (1977)

About

Luskin Star was a sensation from the day of his first start in the 1976 AJC Breeders’ Plate at Randwick, when he blitzed the field by 12 lengths. After wins in the STC Silver Slipper Stakes and Todman Slipper Trial, he became the second horse to capture the Sydney two-year-old triple crown - the STC Golden Slipper Stakes, AJC Sires’ Produce Stake and AJC Champagne Stakes. His total winning margin in these three events was 16 lengths, and he posted record times in both the Golden Slipper and the Sires’ Produce.

Luskin Star finished his two-year-old season by winning the QTC’s Sires’ Produce Stakes and Marlboro Stakes. By the end of the season his tally was eight wins from nine starts, five of them at Group 1 level,

As a three-year-old Luskin Star could not quite match the dazzling speed he had shown the previous year. Nevertheless, he was still able to win five of his eight starts including the 1977 VATC Caulfield Guineas and the 1978 AJC The Galaxy. He was then retired, having won 13 of his 17 starts, and being only once unplaced. At stud Luskin Star was a successful sire, producing 30 stakewinners.

"Luskin Star can justifiable lay claim to being the greatest two-year-old that Australian Thoroughbred racing has ever seen" (Phil Purser)

Image Source: Copyright: Bradley Photographers