Pegasi and Alsephina have maintained Star Turn’s tremendous strike-rate after the Vinery sire kicked off with a cluster of six individual winners earlier this month.
Rejuvenated sprinter Pegasi proved he’s back on track for McEvoy-Mitchell Racing in the Hygain Hcp (1200m) at Ballarat on Friday before Alsephina made it eight individual September winners in a fortnight for her sire at Belmont on Saturday.
Rated a Group 1 youngster as a two year-old, Pegasi went missing at three but has emerged from the wilderness this season with a running double at his home track. “We ran him in the Blue Diamond and Inglis Millennium – that’s how much we thought of him,” co-trainer Calvin McEvoy recalled. “But then he lost his way and we still don’t know why.
“We decided to ride him quietly here last month and it worked. He was posted wide today but Celine (Gaudray) got him into a lovely rhythm and it’s good to see him taking that next step for the owners because they’ve been so patient.
“He looked incredible in the paddock and this win was a couple of lengths better than the first.”
Pegasi was bred by Rob Harding from Draw Forward (Charge Forward). He’s is a younger half-brother to the McEvoy-trained Moonee Valley winner Meteorite (Deep Field) and was an $80,000 graduate from Sledmere Stud at the 2020 Inglis Classic Sale.
Over in WA, Star Turn mare Alsephina maintained her 66% strike-rate when making the most of a dream run behind Real Grace (I Am Invincible) in the Crown Perth Hcp (1400m). She tracked the Peters Investments mare and then overhauled front-runner Ginger Green (Gingerbread Man) to score by three-quarters of a length.
Alsephina won twice at Ascot during an initial three-start autumn prep and she’s two-from-three at Belmont this season for trainers Grant and Alana Williams. “She was in the gates for a fair while and was a little bit cranky but had the tactical speed to box-seat,” jockey Pat Carberry said. “They didn’t go all that hard and she had them covered in the straight but relaxed once she got there.
“She topped up again today so she’s obviously done really well in the stable and there’s more improvement to come fitness-wise.”
Alsephina was bred by Michael and Carolyn Grant from Delta Gee (Street Cry) who won the 2009 Natasha Stakes (LR, 2200m) at Ascot and was also runner-up to Response in the 2010 VRC Matron Stakes (Gr.3, 1600m) at Flemington.
Vinery Stud stands Star Turn for a $27,500 fee (inc GST). For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
