As a young man making his way in the thoroughbred industry in New Zealand, Dais had the pleasure of working as a strapper with Surfers Paradise, as he built an eight-race winning streak from September 1990 until March 1991.
Included in his run of victories were wins in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, the G1 New Zealand Derby, the G1 New Zealand S. and then the Rosehill Guineas. Surfers Paradise's streak was ended when a wet track undid him on the G1 AJC Derby, where he started a short-priced favourite, but could only manage sixth.
Dais may not have travelled to Australia but going on the journey with Surfers Paradise has left an indelible impression on him, and a strong understanding of what makes a top-quality horse.
"He was a terrific little horse, and we may not have seen the best of him. He had a pretty busy 3-year-old year. He won the New Zealand Derby when it used to be held on Boxing Day and had won the 2000 Guineas before that," Dais told TDN AusNZ.
"He then came across and he won the Rosehill Guineas and he beat St Jude. It was a huge run that day."
"He (Surfers Paradise) then came across and he won the Rosehill Guineas and he beat St Jude. It was a huge run that day." - Bryan Dais
Lance O'Sullivan opted to assume the lead on Surfers Paradise after he had travelled wide in that Rosehill Guineas and the Kiwi horse looked in trouble when St Jude (Godswalk {USA}) ranged up to him at the furlong mark. But he fought mightily to repel the challenge and win by 1.25l. 'He's all racehorse' commentator John Tapp exclaimed in the final stages.
He may have had his colours lowered in the Derby, but in his next appearance in Australia, Surfers Paradise demonstrated his extraordinary ability and versatility, coming from last at the 600 metre mark to win the 1991 G1 Cox Plate, defeating the legendary Super Impose (NZ) (Imposing), who would go on to win one of the most famous editions of the weight-for-age championship the following year.
"He was a big price in the Cox Plate because he had run 10th on a bog track at Ellerslie before he came over. He never handled the wet. It was a terrific field in the Cox Plate that year and it was a great win," Dais recalls.
Lance, Dave and Paul O'Sullivan after Surfers Paradise (NZ) won the 1991 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley
A stayer on the up
The Cullinan does not quite take a seven-race winning streak into his edition of the Rosehill Guineas and Dais, now based in Brisbane, is under no illusions that he is Surfers Paradise. But he was always a horse the trainer felt would appreciate a Classic trip.
"It’s a bit of a throw at the stumps if you like. The aim was always to target him at these types of races. He ran over the 2200 metres last week at Eagle Farm and then it was going to be two weeks into the Derby. Everything changed when things were put back a week," he said.
"I didn't want to go three weeks into the Derby. I thought he really needed another run, and it was either have a roll of the dice in the Rosehill Guineas, or wait and go to the Tulloch next week.
"One thing I know is you can't win it if you are sitting in the box back at home. He wasn't in the original nominations, and I thought 'bugger it, we’ll roll the dice and get him down there'.
"If he doesn't measure up against those horses in the Rosehill Guineas it’s highly likely he won't be good enough to run in the Derby."
How to make a diamond
What makes the Group 1 task so special for Dais is that he bred The Cullinan, having planned his breeding carefully after buying his dam, Wild Silk (Ukok Warrior) for just $5000.
"I bought his mum as a yearling. She only has a handful of starts before she broke down. She had quite a serious sesamoid injury. She was lucky to survive that really. We saved her and she's gone on and has had three foals," he said.
"She (Wild Silk) had quite a serious sesamoid injury. She was lucky to survive that really. We saved her and she's gone on and has had three foals." - Bryan Dais
"The reason I sent her to Benfica was to get the double cross of Eight Carat, with Zabeel as well."
That is where the name is sourced from. The Cullinan is the largest rough diamond ever found at 3106 carats (a few more than eight), and Dais was hopeful of uncovering his own gem.
"It’s not something that commercial breeders would probably try but I'm a bit of line-breeding enthusiast. I'm no expert, but I've done a bit of research on Tesio theory and all that stuff," he said.
"They reckon if you are going to line breed to any horse, you should line breed to a blue hen mare. There hasn’t been any better blue-hen mare in the Southern Hemisphere than Eight Carat."
Line breeding to Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}) has produced some top quality horses over the years, including the star mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), who is looking for her eighth Group 1 win in Saturday's Ranvet S. Like Verry Elleegant, The Cullinan is also crossed 3 x 3 with Danehill (USA).
The late Eight Carat (GB)
Continuing the plan
Wild Silk sadly died of a colic attack, but she did produce a filly by Warhead, who was unraced and has continued with the family, foaling a colt by Spill The Beans for Dais last September. There is also a 2-year-old full brother to The Cullinan.
"He's been broken in but hasn't been into the stables yet. He's having a rest but I’ll get him into the stables in the next month. He's very similar, a big grey horse like The Cullinan. Hopefully, he has the same or a bit more ability," he said.
"It’s a bit of pot luck, breeding, isn't it? But you are either breeding for the commercial appeal and going to those top stallions to give yourself a chance to go through the sales ring, or you are breeding to race. If you are doing that, you can think outside the square a little bit. You are not breeding it to appeal to anyone else's interests or tastes."
"It’s a bit of pot luck, breeding, isn't it? But you are either breeding for the commercial appeal and going to those top stallions to give yourself a chance to go through the sales ring, or you are breeding to race." - Bryan Dais
That style suits Dais fine and fits in with his low-profile approach to training, with a stable of eight based at Eagle Farm.
"We had a few more around 18 months ago, but getting staff is not always that easy and you can't do it all yourself," he said.
"We chip away and we're never really able to get on much of a roll, but we have had the occasional handy one.
"We won the Listed Gold Edition Plate with a horse called Soldi Domani. We are not afraid to travel and we took Looks Like Elvis to Melbourne and he ran well down there. He didn't win but was beaten by a nose at Flemington."
Looks Like Elvis (All American) won eight races for Dais before transferring to the stables of Jarrod Austin. He was the trainer's most recent Group 1 runner, having contested the 2019 Turnbull S. where he ran a creditable sixth.
