Fresh
from siring a Group race double at Caulfield with Global Glamour and Star Turn,
Star Witness also chimed in with a new stakes-winner in South Africa at
Turffontein where Mella Maria captured the Group II Joburg Spring Fillies and
Mares Challenge.
Prepared by Mike Azzie, four year-old Mella Maria had been Group placed twice
previously earlier in her career and scored a head win in the 1450 metre
feature taking her overall record to three wins from 16 starts.
Mella Maria was a bargain basement $2,500 Magic Millions National Yearling
purchase for her trainer from the Widden Stud draft and is the first foal of
Group II placed Keep the Faith mare Sayahailmary.
Sayahailmary has a yearling colt by Sebring and will foal to him again this
spring.
Mella Maria is the sixth stakes-winner for Widden Stud's Star Witness, who has hit a real purple
patch since the start of spring and is the leading third crop sire by quite a
margin with progeny earnings of $1.3 million since August 1.