Star Witness Filly Downs Catchy

Tara Madgwick - Saturday August 19
Unbeaten Star Witness filly Crown Witness claimed the scalp of Group I MRC Blue Diamond winner Catchy when she scored a determined victory in the Group III MRC Quezette Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.



Prepared by Stuart Webb, Crown Witness (image Darryl Sherer) had race fitness on her side having won her only two previous starts at Sandown and Flemington over the winter.

With a 2kg pull in the weights over the favourite Catchy, Ben Melham rode a forward race on the Crown Witness to sit outside the leader and she gave a good kick turning for home.

Catchy lost no admirers with her surging finish, but she came up short with Crown Witness holding a head advantage at the end of the 1100 metre sprint.

"To come out and beat a horse like Catchy… we're ecstatic!" said Stuart Webb.

Crown Witness as a yearlingCrown Witness was a $50,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Golden Grove draft for Aquanita Racing and runs for Robert McLure and his family, who had so much success as part owners of the Stuart Webb trained multiple Group I winner Yosei.

"The McLure family have been big supporters of mine so it's a real thrill to see those colours win," said Webb, who is mindful of how much further Crown Witness can progress given she is still in her first preparation.

"We'll see how she comes out of this and how she is next week," Webb said.

"I think she could get to 1400 metres, but I'm not sure about the Thousand Guineas. We'd like to have a nice filly for the autumn."

Bred by Golden Grove, Crown Witness is the first winner for South African Group I winner Noble Heir (SAFr) and has won three from three earning $221,500 in prizemoney.

Golden Grove sold a Shamus Award filly from Noble Heir at Inglis Premier this year for $50,000 and she has another filly by the same sire to follow and was covered by him again last spring.



Crown Witness is the tenth stakes-winner for reigning Champion Australian Third Season sire Star Witness, who stands at Widden Stud at a fee of $33,000.



Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
Star in the Making
Magic Millions yearling images are now being uploaded and one of the fiirst to grab our interest is the half-sister to this year's Melbourne Cup hero Vow and Declare.
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 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.
Star Witness Colt Takes Aim at Magic Millions
It was an action packed juvenile maiden at Rosehill on Wednesday with race favourite Blondeau appearing set for victory before Star Witness colt Aim unleashed a sizzling burst to claim an eye-catching debut victory.
Bright Future for Star Witness 3YO
Astute trainer Mark Newnham is tipping a bright future for progressive Star Witness three year-old Captain Stardust, who cast off maiden status with a bold win at Canterbury on Wednesday.
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.
$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.
Darby Racing Finally Celebrate Exceed the Stars
The two year-old colts and geldings maiden at Canterbury on Wednesday produced a deserved victory for Star Witness youngster Exceed the Stars, but there was a tale of woe from the second place-getter, the heavily backed favourite Mandela.
$320,000 for Melbourne Cup Half-Sister
Widden Stud had the honour of offering the half-sister by Star Witness to Melbourne Cup winner Vow and Declare at the Magic Millions on Thursday for her owners Paul Lanskey and Helga Hueston and got a great result when she fetched $320,000.