Star Turn filly Saltaire has launched another breakout 2yo season for Vinery Stud in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery (RL, 1000m) at Randwick.
The John O’Shea-trained youngster got the upper-hand after a stirring duel with Facile (Trapeze Artist) that lasted the length of the straight. It was the highpoint of another extraordinary afternoon for Vinery’s young gun Star Turn who sired an Australian-high five winners on Saturday.
Saltaire was the medium of solid support firming from $21 into $13 on the back of a strong second on debut at Newcastle last month. “She’s a tough filly – nothing fazes her,” O’Shea said. “I told Kerrin (McEvoy) not to muck around because she was ready to rock and roll.”
The Vinery graduate is the 6th Stakes winner by Star Turn and will be set for another big-money mission in the $2million Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Randwick on February 11. “She has coped very well and really trained on this week,” O’Shea added. “She will have a short break now for an autumn campaign and you never know where she could end up.”
The Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) is an obvious target in March and Sportsbet has introduced her into its market at $26. Vinery has celebrated winning the world’s richest 2yo race with Forensics, Sebring, Phelan Ready, Mossfun and Farnan since the turn of the century. Farnan’s victory in the 2020 Golden Slipper was the middle-leg of a Vinery 2yo treble between Exhilarates (2019 Magic Millions Classic) and Artorius (2021 Blue Diamond Stakes).
Saltaire clocked a quick 56.75s and McEvoy predicted there’s more improvement to come next prep. “I was on the back of Facile and got to her quite sharply. My filly actually idled a bit when she got to the front and she will learn from that. She ended up winning with a bit of authority. She’s on the small side but is very determined.”
Vinery (as agent) sold Saltaire for $140,000 at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale to Kitchwin Hills manager Mick Malone who was acting for a partnership headed by high-profile owner Max Whitby and Vinery partner Neil Werrett. “I’m a fan of Star Turn and when I saw this filly out of a Testa Rossa mare, she just ticked a lot of boxes for us,” Malone said. “It’s all roads to the Millennium now.”
Werrett is a part-owner of Star Turn and he believes Saltaire has a big future. “Star Turn is developing into a top-quality stallion and the next few seasons are going to be huge for him,” Werrett said. “Saltaire had to fight hard to win today but she never gave in and that’s the sign of a nice filly moving forward.”
Saltaire’s older full-sister Avolonte was among Star Turn’s five winners on Saturday when she collared Wuddacuddashudda (All Too Hard) right on the line at the Gold Coast. Their dam Testa Sarah (Testa Rossa) was trained by Tony Gollan but retired unraced and foaled her Star Turn winners for Bernard and Lawrence Stapleton. The mare now has a yearling colt by All Too Hard.
Star Turn’s others winners included Our Shining Star (Morphettville) and Alsephina (Ascot) as well as 3yo filly Turnaquid who won her maiden by five lengths at Wangaratta. Alsephina’s victory improved her record to 7 wins from 9 starts in Perth and co-trainer Grant Williams said she will likely back-up in the Starstruck Classic (LR, 1600m) next Saturday.
There are 9 Star Turn yearlings catalogued for the Gold Coast Magic Millions next month and the first of them to parade is the filly on account of Vinery (as agent) from Joyful Journey (Lot 15).
