Perth trainers Grant and Alana Williams have a Group 1 program planned for their Star Turn mare Alsephina and her stablemate Starry Heights is another potential black-type performer for the Vinery sire at the Ascot summer carnival.
Starry Heights is racing with more confidence since the addition of blinkers. Having Willie Pike back on board at Belmont has also helped him win the Mrs Mac’s Hcp (1650m) on July 19 and the Congratulations Holly Watson Hcp (1600m) on Saturday.
“He attacked the line last time and was dominant up in grade today,” Grant Williams said. “We always knew he was alright and it’s good to see him starting to live up to that early promise.”
Starry Heights (4g Star Turn – Highly Illustrious by High Chaparral) was bred by Korilya Stud’s Ellie Giles and sold for $35,000 through the Ruby Racing & Breeding consignment at the 2021 Perth Magic Millions. His dam is a direct descendant of Denise’s Joy (Seventh Hussar).
“The blinkers have brought him to life and he will be going to better levels,” Pike predicted. “We had a good run three-wide with cover but I was worried about the leaders skipping away along the inside speed lane. He did it well and will get further than a mile.”
Meanwhile, Star Turn mare Alsephina has firmed from $8 into a $6 favourite for the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) worth $1.5 million at Ascot on November 25.
A Group 3 winner of the Starstruck Classic (1600m) and La Trice Classic (1800m) last season, she has built an overall career strike-rate of 9 wins in 11 starts for earnings approaching $400,000.
Grant and Alana Williams prepare Alsephina for a syndicate managed by owner-breeders Michael and Carolyn Grant who transferred from WA to Victoria four years ago. They trade under G & G Bloodstock and also raced her dam Delta Gee (Street Cry) to victory in the 2009 Natasha Stakes (LR, 2200m) at Ascot.
Delta Gee travelled to Melbourne for the 2010 spring carnival and was runner-up to Response (Charge Forward) in the VRC Matron Stakes (Gr.3, 1600m) at Flemington.
In more good news for Star Turn, his 2022 Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) winner Startantes is not far away from resuming training for a spring campaign after missing this year’s Brisbane winter carnival. She was never sighted last time out in the $775,000 The Archer (1300m) at Rockhampton in April.
“Startantes had a minor hind-leg surgery and is expected to make a full recovery,” trainer Rob Heathcote said last week. “She’s not easy to place being a Group 1 winner but there’s lots of races for mares at set weights and penalties during the Sydney spring carnival.”
Startantes has Group 1 placings at Randwick to her credit in the 2021 Flight Stakes (1600m) and 2022 Surround Stakes (1400m) during previous visits to the Harbour City.
Heathcote has trained the winners of 12 Group 1 events with half of them supplied by Buffering. The Champion son of Vinery sire Mossman was voted Queensland Horse of the Year five times between 2012 and 2016.
Star Turn stands at Vinery Stud for a $27,500 (inc GST) service fee payable on a live foal. For bookings or further information, contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
This year’s Vinery Stud stallion parades will be on Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th of August, starting at 8:30am on both days. If you have any questions, please call us on 02 6543 8333. It’s essential to RSVP at: https://vinery.com.au/2023-vinery-stallion-parades/