Transferred to Adam Durrant after winning the Group II WA Guineas (1600m) for Grant and Alana Williams last November, the 4yo Toronado (IRE) mare Treasured Star repelled the chasing pack in Saturday’s Group III Housemasters-Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) at Ascot.
Ridden by Clint Johnston-Porter, Treasured Star held the challenge of the $51 chance Startrade (Trade Fair) by a short-neck with the favourite Trix Of The Trade (Trade Fair) the same distance back in third.
Treasured Star was making her second start for Durrant after clocking in eighth as a short-priced favourite over the same track and distance on October 8.
A homebred for Bob and Sandra Peters, Treasured Star advances her record to four wins and a second from seven starts with earnings of $430,180.
Treasured Star is the best of two winners from as many to race out of the unraced Big Brown (USA) mare Treasured Gift.
A half-sister to the seven times stakes-winner and near $1million earner Battle Hero (Stratum), Treasured Gift had just one more foal before her death in July, an 3yo Pierro filly named Best Present, who is also in training with Durrant.
Treasured Star is one of 27 stakes-winners for Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (IRE) who looks to have a live Kennedy (Victoria) Oaks prospect in the lightly raced Lindsey Smith-trained maiden Queen Air who carried the Sangster colours to a slashing fourth in Saturday’s Group II Wakeful Stakes at Flemington.