Star Turn 3yo Cordyceps Six is making a name for himself in more ways than one in Hong Kong.
He became only second horse this century to down a $1.10 favourite when lowering the boom on unbeaten sprinter Nervous Witness in the Suisse Programme Hcp (1000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Absolute Champion was the last winner to defeat a horse at that prohibitive quote against Hong Kong icon Sacred Kingdom in the 2008 Centenary Sprint Cup.
Cordyceps Six (3g Star Turn – Sandcastles by Hinchinbrook) has won three of his six starts for trainer Richard Gibson and Sunday’s victory was nothing short of exceptional. He went straight past Nervous Witness (Star Witness) in the straight and was eased down on the line by jockey Jerry Chau.
“We kind of spoilt the party with the favourite but he’s improved a lot since his last win,” Gibson said. “He had the advantage of the rail but you’re never confident against a horse at $1.10. We’ve been reading great things about Nervous Witness so to win so easily is a feather in his cap.”
Cordyceps Six had drawn first blood for Australian-bred Griffins winning the Argonaut Plate (1000m) in May and he saluted for a second time at Sha Tin in September. He is raced by Catherina Yim Wai Ling and has now earned the equivalent of AUD $374,600.
Bred by Henderson Racing in partnership with Cook Bloodstock, he was pin-hooked as a foal by Sledmere Stud and later sold for $140,000 at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. His unraced dam Sandcastles has a 2yo filly by Real Impact (Jpn) and yearling filly by Headwater.
Star Turn (Star Witness) is currently running second on the Australian second season sires’ winners and wins tables. Capitalist (16 – 22) leading from Star Turn (14 -19) but they are running neck and neck for career winners with 32 apiece. His visiting NSW filly Sonnet Star just missed black-type when powering home for fourth in the VRC Red Roses Stakes (Gr.3, 1100m) at Flemington on Saturday. She had won the $200,000 Wellington Boot carrying Vinery colours in March.
Star Turn is covering a full book at Vinery for a $16,500 (inc GST) service fee with payment on a live foal. For further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
