Jockey Dwayne Dunn will do his best to get Star Turn to relax in behind the pace to give the brilliant colt every chance to win the Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Star Turn, above, is vying for favourtism for the Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.
Star Turn will be having his first start back since running third to Flying Artie in the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) down the Flemington straight during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
On that occasion Star Turn set the pace and over raced slightly while Hugh Bowman on Flying Artie stalked the speed and the Mick Price trained colt overpowered the leaders in the run to the line.
Prior to his second in the Coolmore Stud Stakes against the three year olds, Star Turn was able to beat the older horses after sitting off the pace in the Group 2 $400,000 Mitsubishi Electric Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
“The one thing we’ve probably got to remember this time is to try and get him to relax,” Dunn told racing.com.
“The last time he went down the straight (Coolmore) he just over did it and that left him vulnerable for the others to pick him off.”
“It’s just a matter of switching him off whether that’s in front or third or fourth.”
“Heatherly is near me but she sat in behind them in the (Cranbourne) trial so she might be looking for similar and so the speed might be right out wide so it’s just going to be a little bit of a tactics race.
“I’d probably rather to be on the other side (outside) but in saying that, there is a good bit of speed around him.
Star Turn has pleased the Team Hawkes stable in the lead up to his return to the race track with a win in a 900m barrier trial at Rosehill on January 31 and then finished second under restraint from Dwayne Dunn in an 800m jump out at Flemington on February 10.
“He’s trialled up well in Sydney and he trialled well here the other morning and we’re really impressed with the way he’s going,” Dunn said.
Faatinah with the blinkers on for the first time and Illustrious Lad have plenty of gate speed and are likely to race on the pace while Heatherly and Flying Artie will also be looking to get some cover as the pack sorts itself out in the first 300m.
The top of the market order for the Black Caviar Lightning at Ladbrokes.com.au is looking very congested on Thursday with Star Turn ($4.60), Flying Artie ($4.80) and backmarker Spieth ($5) all vying for favouritism.
The Bryce Heys trained Spieth is already a winner down the Flemington straight with a victory in an 1100m 3yo Handicap during the 2016 Winter and was denied a Group 1 win by the narrowest of margins when a flying second to Malaguerra in the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington o the last day of the 2016 four day Melbourne Cup Carnival.
