The 2023 NZB Ready To Run Sale topper, Megastar Heart, made another repayment when opening his stakes account with an incredibly courageous performance in Saturday's Listed SEN Oxlade Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm.
James McDonald travelled four wide the trip on the son of Star Turn, who refused to yield to the I Am Invincible colt Embassy for a hard-fought win by a head.
The winner's stablemate Depth Of Character(Deep Field) was two and a quarter lengths back in third.
Sensationally backed, Megastar Heart advances his record to two wins and a second from four starts for Annabel Neasham, who said she is hopeful the colt will remain in Australia.
"He’s a beautiful colt, and I just have to persuade his owner to keep him in Australia for another year before whisking him off to Hong Kong,” Neasham said.
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uo;It was always going to be tricky from that draw and we didn’t necessarily want to lead because he was up on the speed last start.
“He’s still quite green, and we thought there’d be something to follow up. We left it up to James and he felt there was not enough speed to go back so he conceded to being three-wide if he had to be and still managed to look like he’d tuck in and get a bit of cover.
“I think he’s a really nice colt and he’ll be better again next year. He’s just very natural. I’ll be interested to see what James says because he’s obviously ridden a lot of the nice ones.
“I’d say this is well up there with one of the nicest two-year-olds I’ve had.”
Bred by Dr Ian Duckworth and consigned by Fairview Park Stud to the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Megastar Heart was a $120,000 purchase for Solari Bloodstock.
Reoffered by KB Bloodstock to the 2023 NZB Ready To Run Sale, the son of Star Turn made a sales-topping $825,000 to the bid of Hong Kong-based Pato Leung.
He is the first live foal of the winning Foxwedge mare Commonwealth.
A $250,000 yearling, Commonwealth is out of the Canny Lad mare Our Pride And Joy, a half-sister to 4-time Group 1 winner Criterion, Group 1 Doomben Cup winner Comin' Through, Group II BTC Cup winner Varenna Miss, and Listed winner Silently.
Commonwealth has a yearling filly by Anders that sold for $30,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. She was covered by Hitotsu last spring, having missed to Saxon Warrior in 2022.
Megastar Heart is the eighth stakes-winner for Star Turn, who stands for the forthcoming season at Vinery Stud for $27,500.
