Powerhouse sprinter Star Turn retires to Vinery Stud in the Hunter Valley with an outstanding 10:2-2-2 weight-for-age three-year-old racing career and a 118 World Class Thoroughbred Rating.
As a three-year-old Star Turn began his season by winning the Gr3 San Domenico Stakes of 1100m, followed by a nose second to Astern in the Gr2 Run to The Rose Handicap.
Star Turn venturing to the Melbourne Spring Carnival, first winning the weight-for-age Gr1 Schillachi Stakes 1100m in comfortable style over the older Group 1 horses Malaguerra and Fell Swoop. Returning to 3yo company he ran a 1½ length third to Flying Artie and Astern in the Gr1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
In finishing close-up thirds in his next three starts against older horses Star Turn stamped himself as a recognised Group 1 performer. A nose-by-nose third to the more senior Terravista and Spieth followed in the Gr1 Lightning Stakes, run in a slick 57.26sec over the straight 1000m at Flemington.
Stepping out in the Gr1 Newmarket Handicap Star Turn ran a 2 length third to Redkirk Warrior, before running a 1½ length third to Silent Sedition and Hellbent in the Gr1 William Reid Stakes.
At two-year’s Star Turn won the Pierro Plate at Randwick over 1100m and finished second in the Gr3 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G). This was followed by minor placing’s in the Gr1 Blue Diamond Stakes and a 2 length sixth behind Vancouver in the Gr1 Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill.
A chestnut standing 16.0½ hh Star Turn now retires the best son of his sire Star Witness, last season’s Leading Third Crop Sire and the 2010-11 Champion Australian 3YO Colt. Golden Delicious, his Gr 3 winning dam, by Made of Gold, is also the dam of stakes placed winner Straight Gold.
All Too Hard, the Champion Australian 3YO of 2012-13, has begun his stud career in fine fashion by finishing a close second on the Leading Australian First Season Sires table with 33 runners, 4 winners, 11 placegetters and earnings of over $500,000.
All Too Huiying in finishing second in the Gr2 BRC Champagne Stakes and third in listed Fernhill Stakes and Mystic Empire, with second in Gr3 Widden Stakes, were All Too Hard’s group place getters, while The Mighty Fed is a duel Sydney winner.
All Too Hard yearlings again sold well with his She’s A Fox filly selling for $600,000 to Prime Thoroughbreds at the Magic Million Gold Coast Yearling and his Fuhrnatic filly for $500,000 at the Melbourne Premier Sale.
The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Pluck had an outstanding second season with Mongolian Khan winning the Gr3 Frank Packer Plater and third in Gr2 Avondale Guineas. Aspect won the Gr3 Maribynong Plate, second in Gr2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, with Life on The Wire and Gasoline-Jade Theatre (HK) being stakes placed winners and Lucky Louise being a group placed two-year-old.
Australian Champion First Season Sire of 2011-12 Casino Prince continued with another successful season in having Lim’s Cruiser win the Gr1 Lion City Cup, Gr2 Edward Baker Trophy and Gr3 Rocket Man Sprint in Singapore.
In Australian Hooker won the Gr3 Victoria Handicap, second in Gr3 RA Lee Stakes and Gr3 TAB Rewards Stakes and Cantbuybetter the listed Singapore Members Handicap. Casino Fourteen, Sweet Deal and Mikuni were his group and stakes placed two-year-olds.
More Than Ready in siring a total of 172 stakes winners, including 19 individual Group 1 winners, is eighth on the World Top 10 Sires by Stakes Winners, one short of his sire Southern Halo. Testa Rossa has achieved a 73% winner to runners ratio with his book limited this season.
The duel Group 1 winner Press Statement, and Headwater, Exceed And Excel’s Group 2 winning son, will be standing their second seasons at Vinery in this 2017 season.