Scratched from the race on Saturday, Gem Song was reinstated for the Group III Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) when the meeting was switched to Newcastle and didn’t the son of Your Song appreciate his home track.
With Hugh Bowman in the saddle for Kris Lees, Gem Song came with a barnstorming finish to defeat the 4yo Exosphere gelding Exosphere by length with the 5yo Artie Schiller (USA) gelding Art Cadeau back in third.
It was the first win for Gem Song since capturing the Group III NJC Newmarket Handicap (1400m) twelve months ago.
The Australian Bloodstock colour-bearer won the Group III ATC Eskimo Prince Stakes and Group III BRC Gunsynd Classic in 2019, but was off the scene for sixty-seven weeks when making a brilliant return to the track when fourth to Masked Crusader in the Group III Southern Cross Stakes at Randwick last February.
With his fourth stakes win, the 6yo son of Your Song advances his record to seven wins, two seconds and three thirds from 22 starts with earnings of $753,895.
“He loves this big type of circuit, he races well here and at Randwick,” Lees said.
“And that’s probably an ideal surface for him with a little bit of give in it, which he prefers.
“He was travelling really sweet in the run, and I could see he was going to let down well and it was good to see him perform like that.
“He likes that good, solid tempo. Hugh (Bowman) presented him at the right time and he let down really well.
“I wasn’t prepared to run him first-up on that type of track (at Rosehill on Saturday), with no knowledge they were coming here either, but it has worked out well.”
“We will probably wait until the Hall Mark Stakes or a race like that. We will just keep him in his right grade and try to keep him in winning form.”
Bred and initially raced by Gooree Stud, Gem Song is a half-brother to stakes-winner The Omega Man (Northern Meteor) out of the crack racemare Beautiful Gem.
A daughter of Peintre Celebre (USA), Beautiful Gem won nine races highlighted by the Group II Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Beautiful Gem is a daughter of the Group III Black Opal Stakes winner and Group 1 Golden Slipper runner-up Just Blooming.
Sold at the 2016 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale with Bowness Stud signing the ticket for $30,000, Beautiful Gem had a troubled last six years at stud. She was covered by D'Argento last December.
Gem Song is one of four stakes-winners for Widden Stud’s Fastnet Rock stallion Your Song.
