Vinery sire Star Turn claimed the first Group 1 of his stud career when Startantes defeated the best mares in training in Saturday’s Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
The 3yo pocket-rocket had put the writing on the wall with a flashing fifth in the Stradbroke Hcp (Gr.1, 1400m) a fortnight ago. She was among the tail-enders again in the Tatt’s Tiara but jockey Jason Collett steered her through a packed field to score by a half-length from Snapdancer (Choisir).
Startantes is the fifth Stakes winner by Star Turn and her black-type breakthrough for owner-breeder-trainer Rob Heathcote comes after Group 1 placings in the Flight Stakes and Surround Stakes earlier this season at Randwick.
“She’s very special. There’s not much of her but she’s got a big heart and massive will to win,” Heathcote said. “She had no luck in Sydney and really deserved this one.”
Startantes is a third-generation winner nurtured by Heathcote and his wife Vicki. They bred her by using Star Turn over their Champagne Classic Gr.2 winner Funtantes (Easy Rocking). They also raced her second-dam Cantantes (Just Awesome) to wins at Eagle Farm and the Sunshine Coast.
“It’s a fantastic family and we have some close friends in her from the days when I first started out.” Among the part-owners is Rob Ciobo who was a part-owner of their champion sprinter Buffering (Mossman).
“I thought she was pretty good when we just missed at Randwick but the feeling I got today was unbelievable,” Collett declared. “When I pushed the button, her turn of foot was electric.”
Startantes is off to the paddock with career stats of 6 wins in 19 starts for earnings over $890,000. “She’s worth a few bob now and we did have those nice races for mares in mind at the Melbourne spring carnival,” Heathcote added. “But we might have to think again because she hasn’t had a break during her last two preps.”
Star Turn (Star Witness) is finishing 2021-22 with a bang at home and abroad. Cordyceps Six started the black-type rush in the Sha Tin Vase (Gr.3, 1200m) in Hong Kong last month and Golden Monkey added the Singapore 3YO Sprint (LR, 1200m) last weekend.
His Australian city winners in June, apart from Startantes, include Avolonte (Doomben), Beads (Belmont) and Star Expresso (Morphettville) and they have helped increase Star Turn’s domestic tally to 40 individual winners of 61 races this season
Vinery stands Star Turn for a $27,500 (inc GST) service fee. For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
