Star Turn's Startantes Pulls It Out Of The Fire at Doomben

Mark Smith - Sunday April 11

Trainer Robert Heathcote is excited for the future of his homebred Star Turn filly Startantes who turned over her last start conqueror, Military Gambler over 1200m at Doomben on Saturday.

It looked bleak for supporters of Startantes when she stood up the leaders five lengths at the 200 metres. When Talor Marshall brought the daughter of Star Turn to the centre of the track, she came with a barnstorming finish to defeat Military Gambler (Rommel) by a short-neck with Ahooshu (Better Than Ready) a length and a quarter back in third.

It was the fourth start for Startantes who was second at Ipswich when on debut on February 24. After breaking her maiden with a two length success at Eagle Farm, Startantes was three-quarters of a length behind Military Gambler when third at Doomben on March 27.

Advertisement
“That was her fourth run, and I was a bit apprehensive about having four runs on the trot, and a couple of those have been tough little runs, particularly the last one,” Heathcote said.

“But that’s the formline the punters rally too.  There was not much between Military Gambler and Startantes last start and it came down to luck in the run.

“Give Taylor credit; he didn’t panic, got out at the right time and timed the finish to perfection. It may not have been a convincing win, but she was strong late and hitting the line.

“She will go to the paddock now.

“Funtente’s (the dam) was a Group winning sprinter, an 1100m and 1200m sought of horse, but Startantes my get further.

“What a wonderful family this has been. I race this horse with my wife and some really dear friends, so it is good stuff.”

Startantes is the second winner from as many foals out of Heathcote’s star mare Funtantes.

Star Turn (image Mark Smith)

A daughter of Easy Rocking, Funtantes won 10 and placed in 13 of her 50 starts while banking $704,550. Among her wins was the Group II BTC Champagne Classic, Listed Nudgee Handicap and Listed Juanmo Stakes.

Funtantes dam Cantantes was a winner for Heathcote in his first season as a trainer, and the daughter of Just Awesome has supplied Heathcote with many winners. Besides Funtantes, they included the wonderful money-spinner Excellantes, who won 12 and placed in 16 of his 54 starts with prizemoney of $797,550. The son of Falvelon earned five Listed stakes wins in Brisbane.

Funtantes has a yearling filly by Russian Revolution and a colt foal by Spirit Of Boom. She was covered by Rothesay last spring.

Visit the profile page for Star Turn

Star Turn in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Tab Venue Mode Hcp 1200m

Doomben Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:11.42
1
Startantes
- 2f Star Turn (AUS) x Funtantes (AUS) (Easy Rocking (AUS))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: Taylor Marshall 56.5
2
0.2
Military Gambler
- 2c Rommel (AUS) x Call To Ransom (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: Justin Huxtable 56.5
3
2.0
Ahooshu
- 2g Better Than Ready (AUS) x Tranquility Base (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: G R Green Rdr: M Cahill 58.5
4
3.2
Balmaurice
- 2g Maurice (JPN) x Bal Du Siecle (GB) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: R G Lipp Rdr: Ben Thompson 58
5
4.9
Our Hot Friend
- 2g Sizzling (AUS) x Northern Friends (AUS) (Distinctly North (USA))
Tnr: L G Ross Rdr: M Rodd 56.5
6
7.2
Mister Larrabee
- 2c Smart Missile (AUS) x Lady Hepburn (NZ) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: S W Kendrick Rdr: L R Dittman 56
7
9.9
Zeebling
- 2f Sebring (AUS) x Coogee Coozifa (AUS) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: Ms S Thornton 54
More Reading...
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Group 1 Triumph for Star Turn's Startantes
 A masterclass by Jason Collett was rewarded with a Group 1 win for the high-class Star Turn filly Startantes in the Sky Racing Tattersall's Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.