Morphettville is like a second home for Star Turn mare Prairie Flower and that feelgood factor was significant in front of a huge Adelaide Cup crowd on Monday.

Prairie Flower floated across from Henry Dwyer’s Ballarat stables and was trained to the minute for the Grand Syndicates Hcp (1200m).  She enjoys racing in the expanses of the main Morphettville circuit and benefited from an enterprising ride by Johnny Allen.

“She came over on Sunday morning and we’re staying with David Jolly,” stable rep Bec Naylor said.  “She’s thrived even in the heat and Henry has arranged for her to stay with David for the next couple of months.  She’s so honest and that was an amazing win after Johnny looked in a bit of trouble at the 400m.”

Prairie Flower (4m Star Turn – Leotie by Darci Brahma) had won a Ballarat 2yo maiden in March 2022 prior to an initial interstate trip which yielded a Morphettville win and a black-type placing in the Without Fear Stakes (LR, 1050m).  She returned last year for a second autumn campaign with Jolly for another Morphettville win and a last-to-fourth finish in the Nitschke Stakes (LR, 1400m).

The latest win in Adelaide sent her earnings past $280,000 after graduating from the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for $120,000.  She was offered by Maluka Thoroughbreds (as agent) for breeders Geoff Guest and Jill Kewish and they kept a share in a syndicate managed by Wayne Kratzmann.

Allen was having his first ride on Prairie Flower.  “I was conscious they weren’t making ground out wide today so I was hoping we could stay near the fence.  It worked out beautifully when the horse outside the leader drifted wider and we were able to come through the gap.  It was a good win and she did it with a bit of authority.”

Star Turn’s last-start Hong Kong winner Star Club also has an Adelaide connection through his four-time Morphettville-winning half-brother Keep Reading (Headwater) who is trained by Richard and Chantelle Jolly.

Star Club won the Lok Sin Tong Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday under an ice-cool Zac Purton ride for trainer David Hall.  Purton was at his brilliant best guiding the favourite to victory from near last on the inside rail in the early stages.  “It was good to get the win after being so unlucky last time,” Hall said. “I think Star Club has clearly got Class Three ability all day long and as he matures, I think he will continue to get better.”