Star Turn on Track for Golden Rose Stakes

Giant killer Star Turn will continue on his path towards the Group 1 $1m Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on September 10 following his upset win at Rosehill last Saturday.

Star Turn, above, returned to the winner's list in the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Star Turn, above, returned to the winner’s list in the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Team Hakes trained Star Turn ($3.20) was very impressing in returning to the race track to down short priced favourite and Golden Slipper winner Capitalist ($2.50) when he took out the Group 3 $150,000 Smithfield RSL Club San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill in outstanding style.

Star Turn was having his first run back since running sixth behind Capitalist in the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill during the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

While Star Turn has firmed in the market order for the Golden Rose Stakes to be a $9 chance with Ladbrokes.com.au, co-trainer Michael Hawkes said the stable had not made any concrete plans for later in the Spring for the Star Witness colt, with a trip to Melbourne still to be confirmed.

“It’s something we talked about before the race – we haven’t locked in anything yet,” Hawkes said.

“He could head to Melbourne.

“We wanted to see how he raced yesterday (Saturday) first.

“From our point of view, you’re wanting to see if the horse can relax, you’re wanting to see that transition which we saw yesterday.

“He’s pulled up great this morning.

“We haven’t made a decision which way we’re going to go.”

Winning jockey Tommy Berry was very impressed with Star Turn’s return to the winning stall and was hinting there would be further improvement with the colt even though he was able win the San Domenico Stakes by one and a quarter lengths from Tango Rain with Kentucky Miss in third position just ahead of glamour colt Capitalist in fourth spot.

“He was exciting. I always thought I’d be outside the leader today but as he showed in his second trial, he’s a lot more effective when you can take a sit, bring him out and sprint,” Berry said.

“When he got to the front he wanted to have a look around but when I gave him one with the stick he really pinned his ears back. He’s an exciting horse.”

Group 1 Inglis Sires’ winner Yankee Rose shares Golden Rose Stakes favouritism with the John O’Shea trained Impeding at $7 with Ladbrokes.com.au just ahead of Capitalist at $8 and Star Turn at $9.

Star Turn’s win in the San Domenico Stakes was the colts second from six starts after scoring at his second race start in the $150,000 Pierro Plate (1100m) at Randwick on October 24 last year.

Golden Rose Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $7 Impending, Yankee Rose, $8 Capitalist, $9 Star Turn, $11 El Divino, Telperion, $13 Good Standing, Mediterranean, Russian Revolution, $15 Derryn, Omei Sword, Tango Rain.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.