Tommy Berry is not conceding to short priced favourite Capitalist when he lines up against the Golden Slipper winner on Star Turn in the Group 3 $150,000 Smithfield RSL Club San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Team Hawkes trained Star Turn, above, will take on Capitalist in the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Star Turn is the winner of one race from five starts but Berry said that the Team Hawkes trained colt has matured greatly since finishing three and a quarter lengths behind Capitalist when sixth in the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill during the 2016 Sydney Autumn Carnival.
“He’s really matured and his trials have been excellent,” Berry told Racenet.
“I think he’s a great chance outside of the favourite.”
“There’s still a bit of pressure because he’s a colt and the value is still there if he can win but he’s going really well at home.”
Star Turn has won his two barrier trials at Warwick Farm and Rosehill in preparation for his return to the race track and Berry said that he has learned a lot from his last campaign.
“He wanted to race a little bit keen last preparation and wasn’t overly happy inside horses,” Berry said.
“He also wanted to hang down the straight but he’s not doing any of that this time.”
Star Turn has drawn awkwardly in the outside barrier in the six horse field and he can see the race turning into a battle of tactics.
“I think it’s going to be a very tactical race. I just want to get him into a good rhythm,” Berry said.
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in six of six so we’ll just have him where he’s comfortable but I do think he’s a better chaser than he is in front – we saw that in his second trial.”
Berry does a lot of riding for the training team of John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes and said that they rarely give him riding instructions and rely on the jockeyss to have their horses happily travelling where they are comfortable.
“The Hawkeses don’t really give out instructions they just want their horses wherever they are happy,” Berry said.
Star Turn has had plenty of early support in the San Domenico Stakes and has firmed in from an opening price of $4.40 with Ladbrokes.com.au to be the second pick at $3.50 behind the short priced favourite Capitalist at $1.85.
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Capitalist has also won his two recent barrier trials at Randwick but his 2016 Spring Carnival debut has been delayed a week after he was scratched from last week’s Group 2 $175,000 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick because of the heavy track conditions.
Capitalist will have to carry 60kg under the set weights plus penalties conditions when he resumes in the San Domenico Stakes and has drawn barrier four with Golden Slipper winning jockey Blake Shinn in the saddle.
San Domenico Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.85 Capitalist, $3.50 Star Turn, $5 Tango Rain, $14 Mount Panorama, $16 Manolo Blahinq, $17 Kentucky Miss.
