Star Turn’s Brisbane-based 3yo filly Startantes returns to action at Doomben this Saturday against a quality field that includes her heavily-favoured stablemate Prince Of Boom.
Trainer Rob Heathcote is confident Startantes can break through at the top level during the winter carnival, however, he prefers Prince Of Boom in the Mick Dittman Plate (LR, 1100m). “He will ping the gates and be out on speed,” Heathcote said. “Startantes is going to be well back but we know she’s genuine Group 1 class and will be coming home late and strong.”
Startantes was last seen flying home to just miss out in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) on a Heavy 10 at Randwick in February and she will be out to make amends at the elite level during her home-town carnival.
“She will get something like 49kg in the (Gr.1) Stradbroke and then there’s the (Gr.1) Tatts Tiara,” Heathcote said. “She was very impressive getting home in a Doomben trial last Tuesday and that showed me she’s right back to her best.”
Star Turn’s Hong Kong 3yo Cordyceps Six was also impressive winning a Sha Tin trial last Tuesday clocking 58.11s for 1000m. He hit the line strongly when let go late by Blake Shinn.
Cordyceps Six has black-type potential on the back of a 50% strike-rate in 10 starts. “I think he’s one of the best three year-olds we’ve seen in several years,” trainer Richard Gibson claimed. “He shows a lot of class and has a very good future.”
Gibson sends out Cordyceps Six in the Silent Witness Hcp (1200m) at Sha Tin this Sunday and he also saddles Wellington (All Too Hard) for a Group 1 defence of the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m).
Last-start Star Turn 3yo winner Alsephina is also being set for feature races in Perth. She didn’t go around a horse in the Heineken 3 Maiden (1100m) at Ascot on Good Friday and trainer Grant Williams has been pleased with her progress since resuming from a spell.
“She’s well above average and has put on some size in the last six months. She got a good run through for Chris (Parnham) today but then pricked her ears and looked around once she got to the front.”
Alsephina was bred by G&G Bloodstock owners Michael & Carolyn Grant who relocated from Perth to Victoria in 2019. They won a Listed Natasha Stakes at Ascot in 2009 with her dam Delta Gee (Street Cry).
Grant Williams, who had to put a Melbourne move on hold while restrictions remained in WA, also prepares 3yo colt Colossal (Snitzel) who won a Pinjarra maiden last week for Vinery partners Steve McCann, Neil Werrett and WA-based breeder Craig Thompson.
