Star Turn’s winners-to-runners record last season was described as ‘prodigious’ by ANZ Bloodstock statistician Bren O’Brien on Wednesday.
And rightly so. O’Brien’s ‘By The Numbers’ weekly column highlighted the Vinery Stud resident’s phenomenal figures in a table of leading sires in 2022-23.
Across Australia and New Zealand, Star Turn had 65.4% winners-to-runners. With 89 Australasian winners from 137 runners, Star Turn was the top-ranked stallion by a country mile among stallions who will be active on either side of the Tasman this year.
‘By The Numbers’ revealed Star Turn’s progeny were already tracking quite well in the first two seasons that he had progeny at Australasian racetracks, with 50% winners-to-runners prior to the start of the 2022-23 racing season.
They elevated to another level over the past 12 months.
His first crop four-year-olds last season, were particularly successful with 50 winners from 71 runners, at a strike rate of 70.4%. In comparison, his contemporary Capitalist, had 60 four-year-old winners from 102 runners (58.8%).
Startantes gave that crop something to chase after winning the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm at the tail-end of 2021-22 and there was no shortage of Star Turns ready to take up the challenge.
Me Me Lagarde won the Gold Coast Tatt’s Classic (LR, 1200m), and over in Western Australia Alsephina landed the Starstruck Classic (LR, 1600m) and La Trice Classic (Gr.3, 1800m) at the Ascot summer carnival.
That crop included multiple-winning black-type gallopers the calibre of Miss Hipstar, Pegasi, Stellar Magic, Turning, and Max Fire while over in New Zealand La Bella Beals and Academy Award maintained Star Turn’s 100% strike rate. Not included in those sky-high 4yo stats for 2022-23 was Golden Monkey who doubled up at Listed level in the Singapore Derby and Stewards’ Cup at Kranji.
Star Turn is a chip off the old block as a son of Star Witness in leaving some outstanding performers, amid a consistent spread of winners. Descending from the Northern Dancer – Nureyev sireline, via Soviet Star, Starcraft, and Star Witness, Star Turn also holds outcross appeal. There is one appearance from Danehill (Danzig) in his pedigree, but somewhat buried in his fourth generation as the sire of Star Witness’ damsire Lion Hunter.
“Star Turn showed what a great, consistent sire he is last season,” Vinery’s bloodstock manager Adam White said. “His stud career is echoing his deeds as a racehorse. His early efforts in 2yo Group 1 races included a fifth in the Blue Diamond and sixth in the Golden Slipper.
“He came back as a spring 3yo to win the San Domenico Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) in Sydney and Schillaci Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) in Melbourne and returned in the autumn with Group 1 thirds in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) and Newmarket Hcp (1200m) at Flemington before signing off in the William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
“He had to do that against older horses but he never shirked a task,” White continued. “He was just a very consistent and sound racehorse and that’s coming through in his stock. He didn’t win a Group 1 but I Am Invincible didn’t, either.”
Star Turn stands at Vinery Stud for a $27,500 (inc. GST) service fee, payable on a live foal. For bookings or further information, contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
This year’s Vinery Stud stallion parades will be on Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th of August, starting at 8:30am on both days. If you have any questions, please call us on 02 6543 8333. It is essential to RSVP at: https://vinery.com.au/2023-vinery-stallion-parades/
