Hong Kong first for Star Turn
Vinery Stud's Star Turn secured his first-ever winner in Hong Kong when Cordyceps Six caused an upset at Sha Tin on Sunday for trainer Richard Gibson.
Having his second start, the 2-year-old shot through to claim the lead in the final furlong of the 1000 metre Griffin race, the Argonaut Plate, and then staved off his rivals to win for jockey Tony Piccone at odds of $108.
He was initially a $25,000 buy for Sledmere Stud at the 2019 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale before being pinhooked through the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where he secured $140,000.
He is the first runner for Star Turn in Hong Kong and completes a terrific weekend for the sire who produced the quinella in the Listed Dalrello S. at Eagle Farm on Saturday, headed by Miss Hipstar.
Cordyceps Six's half-sister by Real Impact (Jpn) is being sold as Lot 326 at the Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale on Monday by Vinery.
Star Turn now has nine winners from his first crop, eight of them in Australia.
Eaton cleared of major injury
Leading Adelaide jockey Jess Eaton has escaped major injury but remains in hospital after a serious fall on Saturday.
Eaton was dislodged from her mount Pelonomena (Americain {USA}) in Saturday's Listed Port Adelaide Cup at Morphettville and was transported to hospital after cutting her leg and suffering a concussion.
While still in hospital, Eaton is already on the path to recovery.
“I had some stitches on a cut on my leg and I’ve got a slightly punctured lung but it’s less than 10 per cent so it should heal quickly," she told Racing.com.
“I’m still in hospital as a precaution but I’ve been cleared of any major injuries that would require surgery which is a big relief.”
Eaton currently leads the Adelaide jockey premiership by six. She had been due to have her first Group 1 ride in the Australasian Oaks but missed the ride on Ecumenical (Zebedee {GB}), who finished sixth under Harry Coffey.
Nimalee heads to The Coast
Matthew Smith will target Nimalee (So You Think {NZ}) at next Saturday's $500,000 The Coast at Gosford rather than another Group 1 race this campaign.
Nimalee, who won the G2 Emancipation S., finished ninth in the G1 Queen of the Turf S. last time out, and Smith will drop her back in class and look at Group 1 goals next time in.
“There will be a Group 1 there for her against the mares next season for sure but we will just ride this one out, give her a little freshen up and get her ready for next preparation," he told Racenet.
“She is travelling super. She pulled up well after her run at Randwick and bounced out of the race so having had a bit of a freshen up during the preparation and only having the two runs, we just thought it was a nice race to have a crack at.
"We can’t fault her going into it.”
Pike and Gai to link up on Gold Coast
Star jockey William Pike will take his first ride for Gai Waterhouse and her training partner Adrian Bott next Saturday on the Gold Coast.
Pike's book for the G2 Hollindale S. meeting including Nothinsweetaboutme (So You Think {NZ}) in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet for Waterhouse and Bott.
“He (Pike) is riding super, it doesn’t matter where he has been riding or what track he has been riding on, he has been going so well,” Waterhouse told The Courier-Mail.
“It will be great to have him ride for us next Saturday on a filly who could be on an Oaks path.
“The filly he will be riding, Nothinsweetaboutme, is well-named because she has a really quirky personality.”
Tassie Turk a winner again
Star Tasmanian 2-year-old Turk Warrior (Outreach) took his unbeaten streak to five, winning the $50,000 Tasbred 2YO at Hobart on Sunday.
The Glenn Stevenson-trained gelding had won both the Listed Elwick S. and Listed Gold Sovereign S. earlier this season and retuned from a let-off to win with ease.
After sitting outside the pace, he strode clear to win by 3.25l, accounting for Geegeeluckystar (Wordsmith) with Ensnare (Fighting Sun) in third.
Parr's Group 1 aim with Splintex
Josh Parr will retain his association with smart sprinter Splintex (Snitzel) in this month's G1 Doomben 10,000.
Parr and the 4-year-old partnered to win the G3 Hall Mark S. last time out and the jockey told Racenet that he is looking forward to linking up again.
Splintex and Joshua Parr
“I think the 1200 is the right trip for him and with the right run he proved what he can do there at Randwick last start,” Parr said of the Mark Newnham-trained Splintex.
“He deserves a shot at the Group 1 and this looks like a nice race for him.”
Parr rode a treble at Hawkesbury on Saturday.
Jennifer Eccles set for Brisbane trip
Last season’s G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) will head to Brisbane later this month with her main mission the G1 Tatt's Tiara.
Trainer Shaune Ritchie, who prepares the mare in partnership with Colm Murray, was thrilled with how the mare got through an exhibition gallop at Te Rapa this weekend.
While Ritchie has a two-race plan mapped out for Jennifer Eccles in Brisbane, he still wants final confirmation from the mare that she is ready to take on the Australian challenge.
“We are going to take a cautious approach and she will have a run at the Avondale trials on May 11 before we push the button on heading to Queensland,” he said.
“If we go, she will just have two runs over there, with the Tatt's Tiara in late June her main mission.
“She can have a lead-in run before then, but we want to keep her fresh enough to run an explosive 1400.
“Safely through Brisbane she can come back home for another break before we get her ready for the spring, where we will have options on both sides of the Tasman for her.”
Fourth winner for Rommel
Mogumber Park stallion Rommel has his fourth winner after Rommel's Command saluted for trainer Martin Allan at Northam.
Having his third start, Rommel's Command scored a narrow win for jockey Chris Parnham, just tipping out Roch Legacy (Blackfriars) and Benji's (Toorak Toff) in the AG Implements Mdn.
Rommel has had four winners in total as well as the stakes-placed Pixie Chix. He stands for $4400 (inc GST) at the Bullsbrook-based stud.
Stellar Magic to run in Carter S.
Saturday's Listed Dalrello S. runner-up Stellar Magic (Star Turn) will be given three weeks between runs, according to co-trainer Steven O'Dea.
The filly will head to the paddock this week and then return to the stable on Friday to be set for the Listed Carter S. on May 22.
Stablemate Tumbler Ridge (Spill The Beans), who finished fourth in the G2 Queensland Guineas on Saturday, will target the G3 Sunshine Coast Guineas.
