Cover image supplied
Conceived during Zoustar’s shuttle years to Tweenhills Stud, out of G3 Prix de Saint-Georges winner Beyond Desire (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Starlust (GB) is the second stakeswinner for his dam after Listed Lansdown Stakes winner Queen Of Desire (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), from the close family of globetrotting stakeswinner Beautiful Romance (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), who won the G2 Zipping Classic on her travels.
Starlust (GB) winning the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | Image supplied
A 55,000gns ($119,000) yearling purchase for Dermot Farrington on behalf of Jim and Fitri Hay, Starlust is trained by Ralph Beckett and has chalked up six victories to date, crowned by his G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar last year, where he defeated fellow future shuttle stallion Cogburn (USA).
In eight starts as a juvenile, Starlust scored three victories, topped off by the G3 Sirenia Stakes at Kempton, before running fifth to Vandeek (GB) in the G1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. Travelling to Del Mar for the first time, he was third in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint to the talented Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) - who Starlust would defeat when they faced each other at Del Mar the following year.
Starlust (GB) travelling | Image supplied
Travelling to Meydan at the beginning of 2024, Starlust ran two close placings, before adding the Listed City Walls Stakes and a third in the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes. He earned his way back to the Breeders’ Cup to score the biggest win of his career, defeating five Group 1 winners in the process.
“This is a genuine game-changer for us,” said Nick Taylor, Managing Director of Riverstone Stallions. “To have a stallion of Starlust’s calibre, one who has conquered the world’s fastest horses on the biggest stage, as our foundation stallion is beyond exciting.”
“To have a stallion of Starlust’s calibre, one who has conquered the world’s fastest horses on the biggest stage, as our foundation stallion is beyond exciting.” - Nick Taylor
“He's an exciting horse,” Bloodstock Agent Suman Hedge said. “He's obviously a really fast horse, he's performed at the highest level in meaningful races in Europe and in the United States. It’s a pedigree that's really familiar on both sides to local breeders with the presence of Zoustar, and the damsire Invincible Spirit has made such an impact down here.
Nick Taylor | Image courtesy of Riverstone Lodge
“He's such an easy horse to breed to as well. So many of our mares will suit him. The genetic pool is full of suitable mares to be bred to him, and he'll impart speed and great conformation to his offspring. We think that his prospects are really bright. He ticks a lot of commercial boxes, and I think that they priced him very appropriately as well.”
“We think that his (Starlust) prospects are really bright. He ticks a lot of commercial boxes, and I think that they priced him very appropriately as well.” - Suman Hedge
Hedge is fully supportive of Taylor's continued investment in evolving the Riverstone brand; “I’ve known Nick Taylor for a few years, just seeing him develop into a really accomplished, ambitious person has been wonderful. He's very sincere and very thorough. He'll throw himself on a grenade to protect his clients, and it's the kind of thing that we're not always used to seeing in the industry. I think he's very well positioned because people want him to succeed.
Suman Hedge | Image courtesy of Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia
“We really need this industry to get behind people like Nick. He's invested his whole life into this industry and into our farms, and he's been performing quite well.”
Starlust is among the entries for the G1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 17, with the hopes of another Group 1 swansong before he touches down in Australia.
