Star Turn’s prodigious strike-rate last season has carried over into the new term with It’s My Turn and Starry Heights putting together winnings streaks for the Vinery sire in Melbourne and Perth.
The Danny O’Brien-trained It’s My Turn completed a hat-trick at Pakenham on Friday and Starry Heights made it four in a row for Grant and Alana Williams at Belmont on Saturday.
Star Turn has sired the winners of 300 races from his first three crops and it was It’s My Turn who notched that milestone in the Sportsbet Hcp (1100m). “She’s putting it all together and that was a superb effort,” jockey Fred Kersley said. “My intention was to go forward but there was a strong tempo so I settled further back and she travelled really well.”
It also increased the residual value of It’s My Turn since she graduated from the Vinery Stud consignment for $140,000 at the 2021 Gold Coast Magic Millions. Bred by Vinery partner Alan Green, she is a half-sister Afleet Esprit (Bel Esprit) who won the MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude (Gr.2, 1400m) and VRC Cap D’Antibes Stakes (LR, 1100m) in 2014.
Afleet Esprit’s colt by Written Tycoon was also part of the Vinery draft at the 2021 Magic Millions and he changed hands for $525,000 just a few hours before It’s My Turn on Day 1 at the Gold Coast. Named Merchant Prince, he won a Pakenham maiden before transferring to Hong Kong where he’s now trained by Jamie Richards for the Lucky Forever Syndicate.
Over in the west, Team Williams has hitched its wagon to Star Turn with his ultra-consistent gallopers Alsephina and Starry Heights. Alsephina won six in a row last season culminating with a Group 3 triumph in the La Trice Classic (1800m) at Ascot on New Year’s Day.
She continues to firm into a $5.50 favourite for the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) back at Ascot on November 25.
Starry Heights will go for a spell after a four-on-end victory in the Amelia Park Hcp (1600m) at Belmont on Saturday. “He’s probably done enough for this prep and we’re sending him out on a high note,” Grant Williams said. “He will miss the summer carnival and hopefully come back and repay us again early next year.
“He’s probably still six months away but has done a super job this time in. It was set up for the backmarkers today when they set a cracking pace up front.”
Ruby Racing & Breeding sold him, as agent for breeder Ellie Giles, for $35,000 at the 2021 Perth Magic Millions. Star Turn sired him from Highly Illustrious (High Chaparral) who hails from the black-type family of Pentastic (Craiglee Stakes Gr.2) and Primus (Tramway Hcp Gr.3)
Star Turn will stand at Vinery for a $27,500 (inc GST) service fee this year payable on a live foal. For bookings or further information, contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
