Pint Sized Surprise

Mark Smith - Saturday July 13

There's not a lot of Star Surprise but he has some motor.

Making his third trip to the races, the 2yo son of Sidereus backed up from his maiden win at Echuca on June 16 to defeat Can't Be Done (All Too Hard) by three-quarters of a length in Saturday's Ladbrokes Odds Boost Handicap (1200) at Caulfield.

Star Surprise was beaten in to second place Can't Be Done when the pair met at their career debuts at Sale on May 14.


Since then Can't Be Done has finished second at Caulfield and won at Sandown so was asked to concede 3kgs to Star Surprise whose trainer Michael Moroney recalled on that day the gelding had been slowly away and became unbalanced around the home turn. (images Grant Courtney )

"He should have probably won three out of three," Moroney told AAP

"I know the winner won easily that day but he would have made it interesting if he had jumped away and did everything right.

"With weights and measures, if you believe in that, he was in well today."

"He's not very big. We tried to get him ready to the Magic Millions (2yo Classic) but he came to us unbroken at the end of June (last year) from the sale. I tried to push him through, but he went shin sore and we had to stop.

"He's got a lot of ability and he tries hard."

Purchased by Moroney's brother Paul for just $8000 out of the Oaklands Stud draft at the 2018 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, Star Surprise is the first foal of the Ferocity mare Ferocious Katy who was never a factor in her two start career at the Sunshine Coast.

But she is a sister to the talented Divine City who won the Just Now Quality at Eagle Farm when trained by Garnett Taylor.

There is plenty back in the pedigree to attract a Kiwi as the fourth dam, the stakes-placed Sir Tristram mare Patricia, is a sister to the Group 1 Australian Cup winner Admiral Lincoln and to Pride Of Rosewood who travelled from New Zealand to America to claim the Group 1 Gamely Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Ferocious Katy's yearling colt by Dawn Approach (IRE) was sold to Regal Farm/Teng Long Thoroughbreds for $45,000 at this year's Magic Millions.

After slipping to Hollowed Crown in 2017, Ferocious Katy was covered by Exosphere last spring.

Group II Pago Pago Stakes winner Sidereus (General Nediym) has supplied a steady stream of winners since retiring to stud in 2012 however, he is still searching for his first stakes-winner and support fell off dramatically last season when he covered just six mares. His fee has been halved to $3,300 at Oaklands Stud in 2019.

Advertisment
More Reading...
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Knight's 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.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
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.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
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.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
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.
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.