Talented colt Star Turn upstaged Golden Slipper winner Capitalist to take out the 2016 San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.
Tommy Berry was delighted to take out the 2016 San Domenico Stakes on Star Turn. Photo by: Steve Hart
There was a great deal of money for Star Turn in the lead-up to the San Domenico Stakes and Tommy Berry was able to settle him just behind the leader Tango Rain in the early stages of the race.
Berry rode Star Turn with plenty of confidence and the Star Witness colt cruised up to Tango Rain before he put away his rivals in very comfortable fashion, while Capitalist was never able to get into the race.
Co-trainer Michael Hawkes was very confident heading into the San Domenico Stakes and he was clearly thrilled to see Star Turn get the job done, but did not confirm where the three-year-old would head for the rest of his spring campaign
“When he got in front of Capitalist he relaxed really good and I suppose that is the best thing about him this time around,” Hawkes said.
“We have noticed that he is mentally more relaxed and we said that all the way along.
“Hopefully he has a long way to go this prep and it is only first-up, but he is certainly a colt in the making that is for sure.
“He has definitely put weight on and he has grown, got thicker and strong.
“We have always known he had the ability and it was just about putting it together, but now everybody has seen that he has put it altogether.
“Today was to see where he was at and we want to get today first.”
Tommy Berry gave Star Turn a perfect run in transit, but the leading hoop admitted after the race that he was worried by the presence of Capitalist and hit the front before he would have liked in the San Domenico Stakes.
“We know that he is a better horse ridden just off the speed because he comes off their backs and sprints really well, but today he just got there easy and he was very arrogant.
“He just cantered up to them, put them away quick and switched himself off in the last 100.
“I know that Capitalist has an amazing turn-of-foot and I didn’t want to get caught napping, but in the end I would have loved to hang on a bit longer.
“He has plenty of improvement and full credit to the Hawkes team.”
Capitalist was a big drifter on course in the lead-up to the San Domenico Stakes and he loomed somewhat at the 300 metre mark before he tired late to finish a disappointing fourth.
