Vinery stallion Star Turn has sired the winners of 12 races this month and his off-shore gallopers Silent is Gold (Kranji) and Star Contact (Sha Tin) maintained his perfect strike-rate in Singapore and Hong Kong on the weekend.
Silent Is Gold was racing first-up on Saturday and provided Fahmi Rosman with his first win in the saddle. He bounced the fleet-footed 4yo straight to the lead from an outside gate and then took a sit when Last Samurai (USA) made a forward move.
Rosman pushed the button into the straight and they drew away to score by a length. “He’s an easy horse to ride,” the local apprentice claimed. “I gave him a breather mid-race and he finished off very well.”
Silent Is Gold is trained by Stephen Gray for the Buddy Buddy Stable and was winning for the third time in seven starts. “I told Fahmi to be positive,” Gray said. “He did a good job and the 4kg claim helped.
“Silent Is Gold is a good horse. He ran second in the 3YO Sprint and fourth in the 3YO Classic in July and he’s just back from a spell. We trusted him today even though the draw was a concern.”
Star Turn sired him from Confident (Not A Single Doubt) who is a Sydney-winning half-sister to Perignon (ATC Light Fingers Stakes Gr.2). It’s the family of Rubidium (VRC Edward Manifold Stakes Gr.2) and Dash For Cash (VRC Australian Guineas Gr.1).
Star Turn has a 100% record from four starters in Singapore and he equalled that strike-rate in Hong Kong when Star Contact won first-up at Sha Tin on Sunday. He had been placed three times during an initial prep last season and trainer David Hayes is confident he will remain competitive in higher grades.
“When he drew wide I didn’t think he was quite fit enough to win but Matthew (Chadwick) gave him as good a ride as you will ever see,” Hayes said. “We thought the horse was going well but we were just very worried about the gate.”
Chadwick settled Star Contact at the rear before making ground up the rail and then easing him into the clear cornering for home. He worked home strongly to finish over the top of Happy Daily (Pins) and All Is Good (Press Statement).
He joins Cordyceps Six (Sha Tin Vase Gr.3), Astrologer and Sugar Sugar on Star Turn’s winning roll-call in Hong Kong.
Star Contact was an $80,000 buy for Kris Lees from Vinery (as agent) at the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions. He was bred by Vinery partner Steve McCann from NZ-bred mare Vittoria (Postponed) who won twice at Moonee Valley and was Group 1 placed in the 2012 Queensland Oaks.
He was on-sold to Hong Kong owner Adrian Hassan after being placed in a Gosford trial behind California Vanes in April 2021. The winner also ventured off-shore and won first-up for trainer Tony Cruz at Sha Tin last Sunday.
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).
