Saskatoon is the gift that keeps giving for Seymour Bloodstock’s Darren Thomas and trainers Richard & Chantelle Jolly.
He’s also doing sterling service for Vinery sire Star Turn and was back on the podium after the latest victory over 1400m at Morphettville on Saturday. “It was only fitting that it was the Thomas Farms Hcp,” Richard Jolly said. “That’s 4 wins from his last 5 starts for the stable and his biggest supporter Kim Wells. She straps ‘Sass’ and rides him work at home.”
Saskatoon had won a Cranbourne maiden for Team Hawkes and Star Turn’s owner Alan Bell before changing hands for $200,000 at an Inglis Digital Sale. He was bred at Kambula Stud and is the first foal from Group 2-placed Sydney mare Berry Delicious (Blevic).
“Blinkers have turned him around and we’ve found his favourite distance,” Jolly confirmed this week. “We’ve tipped him out for a quick break and will bring him back for some black-type in April.”
Present plans include the $100,000 Vintage Hcp (1400m) at Oakbank on Easter Saturday leading into the Listed City Of Adelaide Hcp (1400m) at Morphettville on April 22.
Star Turn completed a double on Saturday when Beads won the Lightsaber Hcp (1000m) in front of a large Pinjarra crowd on Magic Millions Raceday. The Steve Wolfe-trained galloper was caught in traffic down the straight before spearing through a gap when they linked up with the course-proper. “He was our best bet today and I was happy to get Paul (Harvey) to ride,” Wolfe revealed. “He’s still the best jockey here.”
Wolfe purchased Beads privately from Tony and Di Marwick who operate Secret View Thoroughbreds at Elleker in WA. They had purchased him as a foal from Torryburn Stud for $62,500 at the 2019 Magic Millions National Sale.
His dam Sopraffina (Exceed And Excel) also foaled Get In The Spirit (Spirit Of Boom) who won last season’s VRC Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (LR, 1000m) at Flemington for trainers Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr).
“Wolfie told me travel up behind the speed and he would be hard to beat,” Harvey said. “I didn’t know whether I had got out in time when the leader kicked but he closed in quickly and was still going strong through the line.”
Beads is a great advertisement for Star Turn in the west along with the Vinery sire’s consistent mare Alsephina who won the Starstruck Classic (LR, 1600m) and La Trice Classic (Gr.3, 1800m) at the Ascot summer carnival.
That gave Star Turn the lead for Stakes winners among Australia’s third-crop stallions this season. Alsephina joined Me Me Lagarde (Qld Tatts Classic LR) and Saltaire (ATC Inglis Nursery RL) to send him to the top of that table ahead of Capitalist, Astern and Extreme Choice.
There are three Star Turn colts entered for the Perth Magic Millions Sale this Thursday and Friday. Lot 58 from Lynward Park is the pick of them on type and he’s from Black In Time (Blackfriars) who was placed the 2009 Winterbottom Stakes won by Ortensia (Testa Rossa).
Star Turn had 10 yearlings average $73,750 at last week’s Inglis Classic Sale topped by Vinery’s filly from Sencircles (Street Sense) that was purchased by Tricolours Racing & Syndications for $140,000.
