Today’s brilliant Schillaci Stakes winner Star Turn will now take on the cream of the crop three year olds in the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 29.
Star Turn, above winning the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill, beat the older horses in the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.
Three year old colt Star Turn ($2.10 favourite) took on the older horses at weight for age today in the Group 2 $400,000 Mitsubishi Electric Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield and proved way to slick over 1100m.
Winning jockey Craig Williams had Star Turn travelling on the heels of the leaders in the run to the home turn and after easing him three wide on the point of the corner, the Star Witness colt careered away to record a two and a quarter lengths win over Group 1 winner Malaguerra ($17) with Fell Swoop ($6) running home for third.
Star Turn’s win in the Schillaci Stakes capped off a great day for the Hawkes Racing Team after their other classy three year old Divine Prophet took out the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) two races earlier.
Star Turn will now take on Mick Price’s dual Group 1 winner Extreme Choice, Golden Slipper winner Capitalist and Golden Rose winner Astern in the in the Coolmore Stud Stakes on Derby Day.
Blue Diamond winner Extreme Choice did what Star Turn did in beating the older horses, including the Hawkes trained short priced favourite Chautauqua, at weight for age but did it at Group 1 level in the $500,000 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 30 and their clash on Derby Day will be a great start to the four day Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“Probably the three year olds of Sydney have always been the better ones other than Mick Prices’ good horse that beat us the other night,” Wayne Hawkes said.
“Last season the two year olds were the good Sydney two years and that has franked the form.”
“You don’t see the three year olds take on the older horses and give them a good flogging.”
“I know he was a short price and everything but Malaguerra has the score on the board being a great horse.”
“For the three year olds to take on the older horses is always tough to do and he gave them a short back and sides, which was good.”
“Craig rode him through the line as he was asked to do and got the job done.”
Star Turn’s win in the Schillaci Stakes today was his third from eight starts and the winning cheque of $240,000 took his prizemoney earnings to $607,300.
