Hong Kong is about to go prime-time and Vinery sire Star Turn prefaced the mega-rich racing ahead with Sugar Sugar’s win at Happy Valley last Wednesday.
Sugar Sugar received a cosy run in the Finance Street Hcp (1200m) after Alfred Chan decided to take a trail behind champion jockey Zac Purton on Harmony ‘N’ Home (Ire). “If you follow Zac, he will bring you everywhere,” Chan said after returning to scale. “I was happy to just follow him around but I had to make a decision on the corner.
“If I followed Zac out, I would have to go behind him and, of course, he’s better than me in a finish. I saw the inside gap open up and took a chance.”
Sugar Sugar sliced through the pack in the straight to score first-up this season for trainer Caspar Fownes and owner Calvin Francis Tien. His initial campaign had concluded with a Happy Valley victory in July.
Valiant Stud’s Fergal Connolly consigned Sugar Sugar to the 2020 Inglis Ready2Race Sale and he topped the Star Turns at $250,000. His NZ-bred dam In The Moment (Keeper) is a winning half-sister to Autumn Jeuney (MVRC Tesio Stakes Gr.3).
Star Turn has a perfect record in Hong Kong with four to race for as many winners headed by Cordyceps Six (Sha Tin Vase Gr.3). He is being touted as the next star for trainer Richard Gibson after rising 47 rating points from five wins in nine starts last season.
Fellow Vinery sire All Too Hard has his multiple Group 1 winner Wellington nominated for the first feature sprint of the season at Sha Tin this Sunday, October 23. He resumes in HK$5million Premier Bowl Hcp (Gr.2, 1200m) and Gibson will use it as a springboard to the HK$24 million Longines Hong Kong Sprint (Gr.1, 1200m) on December 11.
“He’s been the best sprinter in Hong Kong for some time,” Gibson said. “He needs very little training. I just try to keep him in good shape with a smile on his face.”
Sugar Sugar’s win was one of five in as many days for Star Turn. Victorian-based gelding Star Smash nearly threw away his race at Horsham before recovering to defeat My Lancelot (GB) by a nose on Sunday.
Star Smash had raced three lengths clear turning for home in the Johnson’s Natural Formula Maiden (2100m) before catching Jarrod Fry by surprise passing the furlong. Stewards reported his mount; “Shifted out abruptly despite the efforts of its rider and again approaching the winning post.”
Fry said he was cruising and was set to score easily before the mishap. “He just switched off and might have been looking for the gap off the track. I didn’t know whether we had won – I had my hands full and was just concentrating to stay on!”
Star Smash (4g Star Turn – Smashin’ Mila by Authorized) was bred and sold by Armidale Stud to trainer Simon Zahra for $75,000 at the 2020 Tasmanian Magic Millions. He’s the first foal from a winning half-sister to the dam of Shards (ATC Up & Coming Stakes Gr.3)
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).
