Rejuvenated Star Turn sprinter Pegasi turned back the clock with a win reminiscent of his younger days at Murray Bridge on Saturday.
Having his first start for Morphettville trainer Travis Doudle, the rising 5yo led them up in the Fred Vella Hcp (1200m) and refused to surrender while shouldering 60kg under Todd Pannell.
Pegasi was a top-class 2yo, winning second time out at Geelong defeating Lightsaber (Zoustar) who went on to annex the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr.2, 1400m) at Flemington. Trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy sent him to Sydney and the southern form held up when he was placed in the $2million Inglis Millennium (RL, 1100m) at Randwick.
After losing his way at three, Pegasi doubled up at Ballarat at the start of this season, however, his form tapered off again and he was knocked down for $40,000 to Barry Ramsay at the Inglis February (Early) Online Sale.
“Barry was one of the original owners and he was keen to hang on to the horse,” Doudle recalled on Monday. “I started with a clean slate and day by day he began to respond to our methods, which includes taking him down to the beach and swimming in the pool.
“He’s a big-barrelled horse and looks a million dollars. He’s sound and healthy and I think Barry and the other part-owners are going to have some fun with him. We will send him around again in a fortnight and go from there.”
Pegasi was bred by Rob Harding using Vinery sire Star Turn over Charge Forward mare Draw Forward who was Stakes-placed in Adelaide. She was a Moonee Valley specialist and her first foal Meteorite (Deep Field) has won four sprints including a 55 Second Challenge at the Valley.
Star Turn continues to go from strength to strength, siring the winners of 129 races this season. He’s second to Capitalist (189) on the third-season wins table with exactly half his starters.
His winners to runners strike rate continues to raise the bar above 70% and Vinery stands him 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).
