Westbury Park sire Startac (USA) was represented by his first winner at Belmont on Wednesday.  His promising three year-old Southern Drawl did best in a close finish to the Westspeed Hcp over 1700m.

Southern Drawl (3g Startac – Drawl by Mr Henrysee) ranged up to the leaders in the straight and then repelled late closers Lethal Jones (Valixir) and The Social Network (Starcraft).

The Hec McLaren trained gelding was overdue after placings at Belmont (3) and Kalgoorlie.  “How many times do you see them improve after a trip to Kal?” McLaren said.  “Every horse I took up there ate out the bottom of the feed bag.

“This horse is still learning what’s it is all about,” McLaren declared at Belmont.  “He will have a few more runs and then I will tip him out for the good three year old races through the autumn.”

Startac (Theatrical) was a G1 winner of the Arlington Secretariat Stakes (2000m), G3 Hollywood Generous Stakes (1810m) and LR Turf Paradise Derby (1609m).

Westbury Park studmaster Phil Ibbotson stands Startac in association with St Jude Pastoral owner James Miorada.  The 11 year-old son of Theatrical is based at the Pinjarra stud alongside Fath (Danzig) and Danetime’s half-brother He’s A Decoy (In The Wings).

Miorada races Startac gelding Don’t Give A Star who earned black-type at Ascot earlier this year when placed in the LR Supremacy Stakes behind Single Spice.

Startac’s sister Chris Penrod is the dam of last Saturday’s Doomben winner Anchor Bolt.