That colt was Star Turn, the most expensive yearling from the second crop of
Champion Two and Three Year Old Colt Star Witness, who six years ago was making
his mark at Royal Ascot with placings in both the Group I King's Stand Stakes
and Golden Jubilee Stakes.Placed into the care of Team Hawkes, Star Turn quickly showed the speed and precocity his pedigree and type suggested when scoring a runaway win in the $150,000 Pierro Plate at Randwick as a spring two year-old.
Returning in the autumn, Star Turn was beaten a short neck by Flying Artie in the Group III MRC Blue Diamond Prelude and was then fifth in the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes and a luckless sixth in the Group I ATC Golden Slipper, the only two unplaced runs in his entire career.
Like his sire Star Witness, Star Turn was even better at three returning from a spell to reel off breathtaking wins in the Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes (1100m) and Group II MRC Schillaci Stakes (1100m) beating quality older horses by a dominant two and a quarter lengths.
His last four starts were all at Group I level and resulted in brave placings in
some of the best sprints in the country including the VRC Newmarket Handicap
and Lightning Stakes."It's a stellar crop of three year-olds this season and Star Turn was a brilliant athlete with superb on-pace speed. He was 'push-button' and a real racehorse," said his co-trainer John Hawkes.
His impressive racetrack deeds, coupled with good looks and pedigree put Star Turn on the radar early for Vinery Stud.
"We had been tracking him since his first win as an early two year-old at Randwick but it was his three year-old campaign that impressed us the most," said Peter Orton of Vinery Stud.
"He's the colt we rated of the current crop to stand at Vinery. He has pedigree, performance and physique, all essential qualities we look for in a stallion."
Star Turn has a diverse pedigree with a real focus on speed being by the Nureyev line sire Star Witness from brilliant Group III winning West Australian sprinter Golden Delicious, whose sire Made of Gold (USA) is also sire of the dam of world champion sprinter and Group I sire Starspangledbanner.
Tough and talented, Golden Delicious won 13 races and nearly $500,000 in
prizemoney and has had four foals to race all winners including Hilton Head, who
is the dam of stakes-placed Eden Roc (also by Star Witness), sold at the Inglis
Chairman's Sale this year to Hong Kong for $900,000.With only one line of Danehill back in the fourth remove of his pedigree, Star Turn is a highly appealing prospect to bring speed and precocity to any mare.
"Star Turn is a magnificent stallion. Strong, powerful and extremely good looking," said Adam White of Vinery Stud
"Alan Bell doesn't buy bad looking yearlings and Star Turn has developed into a magnificent type."
Star Turn joins the Vinery Stud roster at a fee of $22,000 and is already attracting keen support from broodmare owners.
"The Vinery partners have an extensive, quality broodmare band and actively support their stallions," said Alan Bell
"That will ensure Star Turn gets the best of opportunities."
Outside clients are also on the move to book mares to Star Turn.
"I have a good few clients booking into
Star Turn based on his looks and ability. Hopefully he gets yearlings in the
same mould as himself," added bloodstock agent Seamus Mills.
