Vinery Stud’s Star Turn continues to make his mark in Hong Kong, starting the new racing season with a winning double at Happy Valleyon Wednesday evening. David Hayes-trained Bienvenue dominated the 1200m Class 4 race, winning by a length and a half under champion jockey Zac Purton. Purchased for $90,000 at the Magic Millions Horses in Training sale for Strike Thoroughbreds, Bienvenue now has two wins and four placings from 13 starts.
The four-year-old is the first winner bred from Zagara, an unraced half-sister by More Than Ready (USA) to Stakes-placed horses Down Low and Max Whooshtapin. Fittingly, Bienvenue was bred by Vinery’s long-term resident veterinarian, Bill Matthews, who has been a valuable member of the team since 2012, adding a personal touch to his success.
Later that evening, Jamie Richards-trained Storming Dragon, a five-year-old gelding, impressively won the Class 3 1200m sprint by two and a quarter lengths under Brenton Avdulla. Storming Dragon is a $140,000 Inglis Classic graduate from Davali Thoroughbreds and later fetched $330,000 at the NZB Ready to Run Sale. He has recorded three wins and nine placings from 21 starts and is the best of three winners out of the Flying Spur mare Sessantesimo, who is a full sister to Stakes-winner Traveston Girl.
Star Turn’s Growing Record in Hong Kong
Star Turn’s success rate in Hong Kong is becoming hard to overlook:
- 10 winners from just 15 runners
- Includes Group 3-winning sprinter Cordyceps Six
- Six individual winners last season alone
His progeny continue to be in high demand from Hong Kong’s leading stables, as evidenced by this year’s strong sales results, selling up to $350,000. Top lots were acquired by champion trainer Ricky Yiu and other buyers focused on the Hong Kong market. Breeders reaped the rewards of this demand which drove up Star Turn’s yearling sale average to $133,000 across the major yearling sales.
His Next Star..?
To add to his achievements this week, Australian debutant Star Trip (Star Turn x Joyful Journey 3c) lived up to the hype, winning eased down at Seymour on Thursday for Mark Zahra and Caron Maher. Purchased for $280,000 from Book 1 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Vinery Stud draft, he looks set for an exciting Spring campaign ahead.
