Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Thursday May 20

With service fees on the rise, finding value in an extremely hot market is getting tougher.

With all the stallions around him in the race for leading first season sire receiving significant increases in 2021, Star Turn remains at $16,500. With the likelihood of a solid return in the sales ring, that should ensure the handsome chestnut another quality book.

The Vinery Stud stallion has two leading chances in Saturday’s Listed City Property Carter Stakes (1200m) at Doomben.

The market does not seem overly impressed with the fast-finishing win of the Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained Me Me Lagarde when on debut at Ipswich on May 3. The Gerry Harvey homebred has been rated a $21 chance in a field led by the Capitalist filly Socialist, the $3.30 favourite.

The second favourite is the admirably consistent Star Turn filly Stellar Magic.

The Proven Thoroughbreds colour-bearer has looked to be a cut above average since her luckless career debut in the first 2-year-old race of the season at Eagle Farm back in October last year.

A $100,000 purchase out of the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Stellar Magic has not finished further back than second in five starts.

Trained by Steve O'Dea and Matthew Hoystead, Stellar Magic finished solidly at her most recent start when second to Miss Hipstar in the Listed Dalrello Plate (1000m) at Eagle Farm.

That followed a hard-fought win over 1000m at Eagle Farm on April 17, where she defeated Invinsible Tears, who franked the form when second in the Group II Spirit Of Boom Classic at Doomben last week.

Advertisement

Stellar Magic a $100,000 Inglis Classic yearling

Stellar Magic is the third winner from five to race out of the talented Magic Albert mare Al’s Magic Miss.

Trained by David Payne Al’s Magic Miss (Magic Albert) won on debut at Randwick at two. She was then fourth in both the Group II Silver Slipper Stakes won by Satin Shoes and Group III Sweet Embrace Stakes behind Shared Reflections, Streama and Paine In The Glass.

The daughter of Magic Albert went on to win at Canterbury and Warwick Farm and was second behind the brilliant Karuta Queen in the Listed Heritage Stakes at Rosehill.

A half-sister to the Listed Tommy Smith stakes runner-up Carlton Forward (Charge Forward), Al’Magic Miss is a daughter of the stakes-placed Bianconi (USA) mare Carlton Ace. a sister to the Listed MRC Debutant Stakes winner Carlton Spirit (Fraar).

The third dam of Carlton Ace is the top-class 2yo Poppy Show (Village Square), a homebred for Stan Fox, who won the Talindert Stakes and was runner-up to New Gleam in the third running of the VRC Blue Diamond Stakes.

Peter Moody purchased an I Am Invincible yearling half-brother to Stellar Magic for $190,000 at the Gold Coast earlier this year. He has been named He’s Essential.

After foaling a Hellbent filly last spring, Al’Magic Miss was bred back to the son of I Am Invincible.

Star Turn (image Mark Smith)

Advertisment
More Reading...
Yulong Buy Vinrock
Yulong announced on Monday they have acquired unbeaten Group One winning two-year-old colt Vinrock, with the colt set to race on with trainer Matt Laurie.
The Boss Lady Wins G3 Roma Cup and a Quokka Slot
Roma Cup Day at Ascot is a celebration of equine speed with the three feature races all run over 1100m and Street Boss (USA) provided the star of the show in The Boss Lady, who has been tonight announced to fill the $5million Quokka slot for Peters Investments.
Arrowfield Announce 2025 Fees
In the wake of his third Golden Slipper winner and his career-best yearling sale results, multiple Champion Sire Snitzel heads the 2025 Arrowfield stallion roster at an unchanged fee of $247,500, while Castelvecchio has earned a deserved fee increase.
Sires With Winners - Monday April 14
Here is the full list of 20 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Sprint Star Crocetti Arrives in Perth
Kiwi Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti has landed in Perth ahead of next week’s A$5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot Racecourse.
Bloodstock Brains Behind the Big Stables
The modern world of big business horse training sees all the major players having trusted bloodstock agents as an integral part of their team and in the case of Bjorn Baker that person is Jim Clarke of Clarke Bloodstock.
Almanzor Mare Benefits from Maturity
Time was always going to benefit Mehzebeen and the Almanzor mare continues to emphasise that in her five-year-old season.
El Vencedor Primed for Hong Kong
It is full steam ahead for the connections of El Vencedor, as the star galloper jets off to Hong Kong on Thursday in preparation for the Gr.1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on April 27.
FBAA Professional Development Day- Food for Thought
The Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia’s third Continued Professional Development Day was again held at Randwick Racecourse on Tuesday 8th April 2025 and was hosted by MC Vin Cox.
Belclare Seeking to Find Best Form Back in Australia
Dual Group One winner Belclare’s return home for a three-race campaign didn’t go to plan earlier this year, and now she is back on the other side of the Tasman to try and get her preparation back on track.