The Star Turns kept turning up when it counted over the weekend and that accounted for four winners over three days in Australia and Singapore.
Wilkshire won the first leg for the Vinery sire on Friday when powering home in the Grapevine Mortgages Hcp (1000m) in Canberra. He settled behind the leading pack on a Good 3 surface and appeared to briefly resent the kick-back before powering home to score by a length for Robyn Freeman.
Trained by Anthony Mountney for a syndicate managed by ML Racing’s Tory Lavalle, he graduated from the Valiant Stud draft for $92,500 at the 2020 Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale. “He was a professional from the outset,” Valiant’s Fergal Connolly recalled. “Quick off the mark in everything and he also relished getting straight back to the feed-bin.”
Wilkshire’s dam Private Kiss (General Nediym) is owned by Goodwood Farm’s Kerrie Tibbey and she foaled a filly by Headwater in September
Pomade looked a progressive type winning on debut at Doomben for Newcastle trainer Kris Lees on Saturday. Sporting the same colours as Star Turn, he ran about in the straight but was still too good for a smart field in the Gallopers Sports Club 2YO Hcp (1050m).
“The owner Alan Bell is here today and he said the colt would ping and sit outside the leader,” stable representative Mel Eggleston relayed. “We came here with plenty of confidence and that’s exactly how the race worked out. Kris sent him up here to give him a confidence booster. He’s very laid back and still has a lot to learn but is a cracking type.”
Pomade was bred by Vinery partner Greg Perry and was a $70,000 buy for Bell through Vinery (as agent) at the 2021 HTBA Scone Yearling Sale. He’s the first foal of Spotty Socks (Pluck) who has since foaled colts by Press Statement and All Too Hard before being bred back to Star Turn last September.
Trainer Michael Clements won a Singapore Classic (LR, 1400m) with Headwater 3yo Starlight last year and he unveiled another talented Vinery-sired 3yo when Alqantur bolted in at Kranji on Saturday.
Alqantur won by three lengths untouched for Kuwaiti-based Al Rashid Stable. He sat behind the speed and gapped them in the straight despite switching leads in the final stages. “They gave me a budget at the beginning of last year and Alqantur is one of the four I bought,” Clements said. “He’s an exciting young horse and is still green but is improving all the time.”
Star Turn sired him from Delirious (All Bar One) and he was raised at Rosemont Stud before graduating from the 2020 NZB Ready To Run Sale for $130,000. Rosemont manager Gerard Jones remembered Alqantur as a late foal but a “real good mover” in his early days at Gnarwarre.
Demon Blood notched the fourth win for Star Turn at Geelong which is just a short Sunday drive from Gnarwarre. The Clinton McDonald-prepared 3yo had been unplaced on debut at Sandown earlier the month but that outing made the world of difference in the Bet365 Maiden Plate (1100m).
“I’ve had a bit to do with him and he’s a beautiful type,” winning jockey Mark Zahra said. “He’s still green and I tried to help him by getting to the fence but we couldn’t get across. He came off the bridle at the 600m so I shook him up to focus and went quick when I asked.
“The win was full of merit. He was going to sit down near the finish but went again when he saw another one coming. I’m very positive about his future.”
Demon Blood sports the red and blacks silks made famous by Weekend Hussler and races for a Trilogy Racing syndicate after being knocked down for $180,000 at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. He was bred by Esker Lodge from Loves Attention (Taimazov) who is a half-sister to Written Tycoon!
Trilogy Racing, in partnership with China Horse Club and Newgate Bloodstock, bought a More Than Ready – Rosenet colt from Vinery for $425,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions last week.
A rising star on the Vinery roster, Star Turn has 13 yearlings catalogued for the upcoming Inglis Classic Sale in Sydney. Vinery (as agent) sells the Star Turn full-sister to 3yo filly Avolonte (Lot 299) who won for the second time at the Sunshine Coast last month.