Vinery Stud has circled the spring calendars for the launch of its freshman sire Star Turn and so has Team Hawkes with their $550,000 graduate from the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions.
The 2yo colt from Dukemore (Encosta de Lago) was the most expensive yearling from the first crop of Star Turn and is bred to jump and run in time for the $160,000 Breeders’ Plate Gr.3 at Randwick on Saturday, October 3.
Trainer John Hawkes prepared Star Turn for a three-length debut win at Randwick as an October 2yo in 2015 and is very keen to see his colts and fillies kick-off early doors, too.
“We have a few by Star Turn and it’s already obvious they want to be racehorses,” Hawkes said this week. “He was a great racehorse and young ones are lovely movers with the right attitude.”
Hawkes is particularly pleased with the chestnut colt from Dukemore who is a half-sister to Widden Stakes LR winner Superfly. Second-dam Allez France (Hennessy) was also a juvenile black-type winner at Randwick in the Keith Mackay Hcp LR.
“He’s been in and out a couple of times and is back in work now,” Hawkes added. “When I first saw him at the Glenlogan Park barn on the Gold Coast I said ‘Wow!” He was an expensive yearling but we filled out the syndicate in next to no time.”
Vinery joined forces in the ownership which includes Winjana Park, Glenlogan Park, Mystery Downs, Rupert Legh and Glentree Pastoral.
Team Hawkes also purchased the Star Turn filly from Miss Seton Sands (Gonski) for $200,000 on the Gold Coast. Offered by Vinery, she’s the first foal of a New Zealand stakes winner who added a straight-six sprint victory at Flemington for trainer Tony McEvoy.
Star Turn is a son of Blue Diamond Stakes Gr.1 winner Star Witness and Chris Waller is training his filly from Sanaya (More Than Ready) who has been named Headliner. Purchased by Star Thoroughbreds for $170,000 on the Gold Coast, she’s the first foal of a three-quarter sister to Mahisara (Sandown Stakes Gr.3).
“She was forward enough to generate lots of favourable comments at our yearling parades,” Vinery’s bloodstock manager Adam White recalled. “And the Star Witness sireline works with More Than Ready.”
Mystery Downs owners Frank and Christine Cook also have a share in Headliner and Waller will give her every chance to be primed for the opening fillies race of the season in the $160,000 Gimcrack Stakes Gr.3 at Randwick on October 3.
Headliner is one of 32 Star Turn nominations for the 2021 Golden Slipper Stakes Gr.1 at Rosehill on Saturday, March 22.
Star Turn’s first yearlings sold for 10 times his service fee at the 2020 majors and Vinery will stand him for $16,500 (inc GST) this year payable on a live foal.
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