Astrologer has powered home to deliver a second boilover in consecutive weeks for Vinery sire Star Turn in Hong Kong.
The Douglas Whyte-trainee came from the clouds at massive odds of $134 to defeat his favoured stablemate Harmony Fire (Brazen Beau) in the Kokura Hcp (1000m) at Happy Valley in Wednesday evening.
Astrologer (3g Star Turn – Fast ‘N’ Witty by Fastnet Rock) failed at his first start for Whyte and new owners the Happy Companions Syndicate last Wednesday. Backing up off a seven-day break, he was at the back of the pack and going nowhere again until Keith Yeung weaved a path through traffic to stun punters.
“Astrologer has come from another galaxy,” the English caller cried. “You would have needed a telescope to find him on the turn!”
Whyte thought the favourite was unlucky while acknowledging Astrologer had pleased him this week. “He ran with a bit of credit first-up and Keith jumped off and said he gave him a good feel. He’s backed up and really hit the line strongly.”
Previously with Snowden Racing, Astrologer earned black-type on debut in the 2020 ATC Breeders’ Plate (Gr.3, 1000m) at Randwick and he signed off a five-start Australian career when ridden to a hard-fought victory by Tommy Berry at Canterbury in May.
He was a $300,000 buy from Edinglassie Thoroughbreds at the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions for a James Harron Colts Syndicate that includes Belinda Bateman, Rob & Donna Love, Fergus & Delia Doyle, John & Fran Ingham, Gary Diamond, Danny Saab & Steve Gillard. His second-dam Crystal Wit won a Dequetteville Stakes LR and her half-sister Crystal Lily won the 2010 Golden Slipper Stakes Gr.1.
Edinglassie manager Mick Talty predicted a bright future for Astrologer after he was knocked down at the Gold Coast. “He’s a beautiful mover and a very strong individual. Star Turn was a superb athlete and this colt is built in the same mould as his sire.”
Star Turn 3yo Cordyceps Six was just as impressive when he flew home to end the unbeaten run of boom sprinter Nervous Witness last Sunday week at Sha Tin. It was only second time a $1.10 favourite had been beaten in Hong Kong this century. The first was local hero Sacred Kingdom in the 2008 Centenary Sprint Cup.
There are four first-crop sons of Star Turn currently registered with the HKJC. The other two are currently unraced – Star Contact (3g ex Vittoria by Postponed) with David Hayes and Sugar Sugar (3g ex In The Moment by Keeper) with Caspar Fownes.
Edinglassie sold another Hong Kong-bound Star Turn at the 2021 Gold Coast Magic Millions. The colt from Hostile Witness (Street Sense) was purchased by Ross Lao (Upper Bloodstock) and James Bester for $180,000.
Star Turn has a dozen lots catalogued for the Gold Coast Magic Millions in January including two colts from Vinery parading on Day 4. Lot 680 is from Warm Charge (Commands), an unraced daughter of Zabeel Stakes winner Warm Smytzer (Geelong Oaks LR, 2200m).
Lot 754 from Arctic Success (Big Brown) is a half-brother to Roots (Press Statement), the promising Chris Waller-trained filly who earned her first black-type when runner-up in the Reginald Allen Hcp (LR, 1400m) at Randwick in October.
The latest Australian maiden winner for Star Turn arrived at Wyong on Tuesday with his flashy chestnut Glamour And Glory. She camped on the speed for Tommy Berry and let down quickly to score by more than length against an all-age field over 1000m.
Glamour And Glory (3f Star Turn – Miss Seton Sands by Gonski) was purchased by Team Hawkes for $200,000 at the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions. Offered by Vinery, she’s the first foal of a New Zealand Stakes winner who also claimed a straight-six victory at Flemington for trainer Tony McEvoy.
“She’s a nice filly but can be temperamental,” Berry told Sky Channel. “She didn’t like the tight turns today and then shied at the winning post. My wife Sharnee is in the syndicate and the girls have been patient. This one took a while to work it out and she will keep improving around a bigger track.”
