Star Turn’s Group 1-winning mare Startantes will earn a wildcard entry into next month’s $1million Magic Millions Cup (RL, 1400m) if she wins The Buffering (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Startantes, who was born at Vinery, is a homebred for trainer Robert Heathcote and it’s her last chance to stay in training after an 18-month losing run stretching back to the Tatt’s Tiara (Gr.1, 1400m) at the 2022 Brisbane winter carnival.
“She has been entered for the Inglis Chairman’s Sale in May and will be retired if she doesn’t win The Buffering,” Heathcote said. “She has been a fantastic performer throughout her career. You never give back a Group 1 but she will always carry a penalty up here and that makes it tough.
“The reality is there’s nothing suitable for her in Brisbane. Even at the winter carnival, the races are set weights and penalties.”
Heathcote prepared champion sprinter Buffering (Mossman) and honouring his old favourite while banking the bulk of $300,000 in prizemoney would be another career-highlight for the Eagle Farm trainer and his wife Vicky. Bookmakers have Startantes on the sixth-line of markets at $16 after she drew wide in barrier 15.
Win, lose or draw, Startantes would be expected to make seven-figures as a broodmare prospect at the Chairman’s Sale. “She was just beaten by Hinged in the Group 1 Surround Stakes and raced successfully against Fangirl,” Heathcote recalled. “She comes from an incredible family that keeps on giving – there’s been more than 70 winners and she is clearly the jewel in the crown.”
Star Turn has marshalled a 75% winning strike-rate, which was the best of any sire in the Australian Top 50 last season. That segued into a Southern Hemisphere 2YO Sale record last month when his colt from Commonwealth (Foxwedge) made $825,000 at the NZB Ready To Run Sale.
There are 13 lots by Star Turn catalogued for the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale next month including Vinery’s colt from Joyful Journey (Shamardal). Parading as Lot 815, he’s a half-brother to Flemington winner Grand Pope (More Than Ready) from a half-sister to ATC South Pacific Classic (LR, 1400m) winner Landing (More Than Ready).
Star Turn set the Gold Coast buzzing on Day 1 at this year’s Magic Millions when his filly from Joyful Journey made $440,000. She was knocked down to Emirates Park manager Brian Carlson and is on the books at Ciaron Maher Racing.
“Star Turn is doing a tremendous job at stud and we particularly liked this filly on type,” Carlson said. “She ticks all the boxes physically and is really well-bred, too.”
