Star Turn is challenging hot-favourite Capitalist for the first-season sire’s title by winners this season after the Vinery sire’s day-by-day treble.
Heading towards the final-quarter of the season, Capitalist (8) is still the freshman to beat but he’s only marginally in front of Star Turn (7) and Sooboog (7).
Ladbrokes opened Capitalist at $2.50 for the 2020-21 winners’ premiership in pre-season betting. Star Turn was priced at $8.50 while Sooboog was on the next line at $11.
Stellar Magic was the highlight of Star Turn’s weekend with a whirlwind finish in the Sky Racing 2YO Hcp (1000m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. It was her second win in four starts and signalled she has the wherewithal to make the grade in Stakes company at the Brisbane winter carnival.
Star Turn had sired his 6th individual winner with Impact Star at Port Macquarie on Friday and the 7th arrived when Mortal Witness spaced a Wagga nursery on Sunday.
All three can build on their positive starts and Stellar Magic’s connections are focusing on the Dalrello Stakes (LR, 1000m) back at Eagle Farm on May 1. “She settled further back than we anticipated,” co-trainer Steve O’Dea admitted. “She led in her last two runs but wanted to prick her ears and clock off.
“We asked Baylee (Nothdurft) to be patient before he pressed the button today. And when she loomed up to the leaders, she still wanted to have a bit of a think about it. She will draw plenty of confidence out of the win and is definitely going to be better suited over a bit further.
“She’s beautifully balanced and is going places with that big stride.”
Stellar Magic (2f Star Turn – Al’s Magic Miss by Magic Albert) was bred and sold by Yarraman Park for $100,000 to Proven Thoroughbreds at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Impact Star is also on an upward curve following his maiden win at Port Macquarie on Friday. He had been unlucky not to win at Canberra on debut when he shied at the post and wasn’t disgraced in the Wyong Magic Millions.
“He’s come back from a break more mature and was ready to go today,” trainer Damien Lane reported. “He’s a beautiful animal and doesn’t over-exert himself. He will train on from here and the owners are going to have some fun with him.”
Impact Star (2g Star Turn – Etoile Fille by No Excuse Needed) was bred by Manx Park and is from a Randwick 2yo winning daughter of Starcent (NZ Gold Trail Stakes Gr.3).
Mortal Witness was in a league of her own in the Prized Icon Maiden Hcp (1200m) at Wagga on Sunday. She had finished fourth on debut in the $500,000 MVRC Inglis Banner (1000m) on Cox Plate day and put panels on her rivals allowing Blaike McDougall to ease down and sit up for the photo.
“Blaike said she appreciated being on top of the ground,” Lindsay Park Racing Manager Rayan Moore explained. “She raced on soft tracks at Moonee Valley and in the Ottawa Stakes at Flemington during her first prep.”
Lindsay Park will send her back to the Riverina for a 2yo race at the Wagga Cup carnival on May 6. “She’s a straightforward filly,” Moore said. “We’ve been very happy with her progress and the trips away will be the platform for a city campaign.”
Mortal Witness (2f Star Turn – Mortal Sin by All American) is owned by Hong Kong resident Ben Kwok and among his other 2yo fillies with Lindsay Park is Psychokinesis (All Too Hard). Kwok races her in partnership with Gerry Harvey after she was knocked down for $170,000 from Baramul Stud at the 2020 Magic Millions National Sale.
