Impressive forecast for Astrologer

Star Turn youngsters Astrologer and Impact Star will lead the field from the birdcage into battle for the $200,000 Magic Millions Wyong 2yo Classic (RL, 1100m) on Wednesday.

The Vinery freshman and his sons had mixed luck at the barrier draw – Astrologer has his work cut out from 13 while Impact Star should be well-placed jumping from the rails.

Vinery graduate Farnan won last year’s Wyong Classic before training on to a holy-grail Group 1 victory in the Golden Slipper Stakes.

Astrologer (2c Star Turn – Fast ‘N’ Witty by Fastnet Rock) has opened a $4.80 second-favourite despite the alley and co-trainer Peter Snowden has been happy with his progress since winning a 900m barrier trial at Rosehill a fortnight ago.  He sat on the speed and responded under Jason Collett to edge out Turboart (Flying Artie).

“It’s only early days but that was a good start,” Snowden said.  “I’ve seen a few of the Star Turns and they’ve impressed me.  Hopefully, after Wyong, we will be heading up to the Gold Coast.”

The $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) is scheduled for the Gold Coast on Saturday, January 16.

Astrologer was placed in the Breeders’ Plate Gr.3 at Randwick on debut before going out for a break.  He’s built in a similar mould to his sire and his dam is from the immediate family of Crystal Lily (Golden Slipper Stakes Gr.1).

Impact Star (2g Star Turn – Etoile Fille by No Excuse Needed) was runner-up in a head-bobber when facing the starter for the first time in Canberra last month.  Wyong trainer Damien Lane said it had been a long-range plan to get him and stablemate Snowdrop (Capitalist) into the race.

“They both galloped between races at Wyong last Thursday and I wouldn’t swap them for anything else, that’s for sure,” Lane said.  “Impact Star is a great natured, big, strong horse.  He has got natural ability and with the good barrier should be able to put himself into the race.”

His NZ-bred dam Etoile Fille won a Randwick nursery for Team Hawkes and she has a Hellbent filly catalogued as Lot 276 by Manx Park for the 2021 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Star Turn has 11 yearlings entered for the Gold Coast starting with the filly from Bonded (Danewin).  Catalogued as Lot 114 by Vinery (as agent), she is a half-sister to Thousand Guineas Prelude Gr.2 winner Afleet Esprit.

ASTROLOGER