Star Turn wasted no time upstaging his Vinery colleague All Too Hard who had topped all Australian stallions with six winners on Saturday.

On Monday, Star Turn surpassed every Australian stallion with four winners and they all came from his first two books at Vinery.  Crop-for-crop it was a tremendous achievement and it sets up a million-dollar mission for his Group 1 mare Startantes at Randwick Saturday.

Star Turn’s Pakenham winners (Kapanku and Startide) are both trained by Phillip Stokes and he also posted a double at Beaudesert with Athena Nyx (Kris Lees) and Green Legend (Doug Duryea).

Kapanku had been sidelined since a debut second at Mornington in May 2021 and Stokes wasn’t confident going into the O’Brien Real Estate Maiden Plate (1200m).  “She injured a hamstring and then had a virus and I was worried about how the track was playing today.  I left it up to Sheridan (Clarke) and, to her credit, she went forward from the gates.  The filly kicked and was very strong in the straight.

“She’s been in work a long time and it’s great to see her bounce back after 16 months away.  It’s onwards and upwards from here.”

Kapanku raced away to score by over three lengths for her Darwin-based breeder John Robinson and Merricks Station owner Ben Cooper.  She’s bred to keep improving as a younger half-sister to Vinery graduate Vanna Girl (Husson) who won the Doomben Roses Gr.2, Pam O’Neill Stakes LR and Daybreak Lover Stakes LR during the 2020 Brisbane winter carnival.

Their dam Logan’s Choice (Redoute’s Choice) has a 2yo colt by Star Turn and yearling filly by Exceedance.

Stablemate Startide was equally impressive at Pakenham putting three lengths on Aurolaa (Shalaa) and Dillinger (Zoustar) in the Image Direct Maiden Plate (1200m).  She was also racing first-up since an unplaced run in the David Coles Stakes Gr.3 at Morphettville in May.

“We came here last month thinking she could win but she dropped Sheridan going to the barriers,” Stokes recalled.  “She pressed forward today and then put them away.  She still has to come on in the coat and I think she will be a nice 3yo filly come the autumn.”

Startide was a $125,000 buy from Baramul Stud at the 2021 Adelaide Magic Millions.  She’s the first foal of Sovereign Eminence (Testa Rossa) who is a half-sister to Sovereign Nation (MVRC Bill Stutt Stakes Gr.2).

The Star Turn Queensland double started with Athena Nyx who was coming off a Tamworth maiden win for trainer Kris Lees and Prime Thoroughbreds.  “She’s a pearler,” Prime’s Joe Neill said following the Glenfiddich at Aquis Hcp (1200m).  “That’s two from three and her next start will be at Doomben in three weeks.”

Star Turn sired Athena Nyx from Karrakatta Plate Gr.2 winner Night War (General Nediym).  The dam is a half-sister to Samaready (More Than Ready) who won twice at Group 1 level in the Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield and Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

Night War has a yearling filly by Exceedance at Vinery and her other half-sister Night Flyer (All Too Hard) foaled an Exceedance colt on September 6.

Green Legend completed the second Star Turn double on Monday at his first outing since transferring from Sydney.  He jumped straight to the front and that’s the last they saw of the favourite.

Apprentice Wendy Peel risked a peep looking for any closers in the straight but they were already home and hosed in the TAB Maiden Plate (1100m).

Green Legend graduated for $100,000 from the Rheinwood Pastoral consignment at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.  His dam Volutina (Holy Roman Emperor) was a Gosford 3yo maiden for Gai Waterhouse and her older half-sister Insistence (Black Hawk) won a Carlton Draught Classic LR at Eagle Farm.

Magus Equine agent Willie Leung bought Green Legend at Riverside Stables and that suggests he will eventually join the likes of Sha Tin Vase Gr.3 winner Cordyceps Six in Hong Kong.

Cordyceps Six is one of five Stakes winners from Star Turn’s first two crops led by Group 1 winner Startantes.  Trainer Rob Heathcote is hoping for a change of luck when Startantes lines up in the $1million Silver Eagle (1300m) at Randwick this Saturday.

“She gets back and needs an unimpeded run to the line,” Heathcote said on Monday.  “She never got a crack at them in the Golden Pendant at Rosehill a fortnight ago.  It ended up being a soft run and that could be a blessing in disguise going into a race worth a millions bucks!”

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).