Kiwi trainer Stephen Marsh has decided against sending his Star Turn filly La Bella Beals to the Brisbane winter carnival ahead of her Group 3 assignment in the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.
“We’re looking towards the spring and will probably send her for a spell after this weekend,” Marsh said on Thursday. “She’s drawn a red-hot field but has been going great at home.”
La Bella Beals (3f Star Turn – Miss Beals by Savabeel) was a three-length winner first-up at Tauranga in March and then looked a good thing beaten at Arawa Park on April 9.
“It wasn’t run to suit her that day. They slowed up and she kept fighting Michael (McNab),” Marsh recalled. “She got to the front but went down a nose on the line. I’ve added a tongue-tie and hopefully that will help her go out a winner.”
La Bella Beals was a $70,000 buy for Marsh at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale and among her rivals on Saturday is Star Turn’s recent Matamata winner Amoramio.
Star Turn’s stocks for the Brisbane carnival received a setback when stewards scratched Startantes from the Mick Dittman Plate (LR, 1110m) at Doomben last Saturday, however, the Vinery sire’s others 3yo fillies Miss Hipstar and Stellar Magic both impressed when resuming from spells.
Jockey Larry Cassidy lodged an unsuccessful protest after Miss Hipstar was beaten a long-neck into second spot by long-shot Rubiquitous and Stellar Magic was right behind her with a late closing fourth.
Star Turn had the highest 2YO winning strike-rate of all Australian stallions in 2020-21 and he sired a pair of promising 2yo winners on Saturday with Huri Black (Gold Coast) and Prairie Flower (Morphettville).
Huri Black (2f Star Turn – Blackjack Bella by Casino Prince) crossed from a wide gate to sit outside Birdonawing (Fastnet Rock) and then drew away from the odds-on favourite in the XXXX Maiden (1400m).
Prairie Flower (2f Star Turn – Leotie by Darci Brahma) had been an eye-catching maiden winner at Ballarat in March and was unlucky not to earn some black-type in the Redoute’s Choice Stakes (LR, 1100m) at Caulfield before the interstate trip.
“She knuckled over and lost a fair bit of ground from the start at Caulfield and was game to the line finishing fifth,” Ballarat-based trainer Henry Dwyer revealed. “We sent her across to Adelaide on Thursday night and she travelled up nicely and settled in well.
“We were extremely confident with race experience on her side. Will (Price) settled three-wide with cover and then unleashed her down the straight. She’s firing on all cylinders.”
Dwyer has several black-type options next month including the Without Fear Stakes (LR, 1050m) back at Morphettville on Saturday week, May 7.
Prairie Flower changed hands for $120,000 at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale when offered by Maluka Thoroughbreds (as agent) for Rockmount. Dwyer trained her dam Leotie to win at Caulfield and she was also a Group 3 runner-up to I Am A Star in the 2016 Quezette Stakes.
Star Turn stands at Vinery for a $27,500 (inc GST) service fee. For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
