Moving to Widden Stud Victoria this spring, proven Group I sire Star Witness posted his 20th stakes-winner on Saturday when talented two year-old filly Rhapsody Rose broke through for her first Black Type win at Doomben in the Listed BRC Bill Carter Stakes (1200m).
The Chris Munce trained filly was narrowly beaten when third at her previous run in the Group III Ken Russell Memorial Classic and showed the strength of that form when scoring a tenacious short half head win over the Chris Waller trained duo Hoover Lucy and Morioka.
“She’s so tough and I think in time she’ll run a mile,” said Chris Munce.
“She’ll back up next Saturday in the Sires Produce (G2 1400m) and from there she may well go to the JJ Atkins (G1 1600m).”
A $120,000 Magic Millions purchase for Munce Racing Pty Ltd/Arthur Hoyeau from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft, Rhapsody Rose runs for former politician and Racing Australian CEO Peter McGauran and Jonathan Munz’s Pinecliff Racing.
Stakes-placed twice before, Rhapsody Rose has the overall record of two wins and three placings from six starts with earnings topping $160,000.
Bred by Munz’s GSA Bloodstock, Rhapsody Rose is the first winner for Ritzy, a half-sister by Medaglia D’Oro (USA) to dual Group I winner Fiveandahalfstar that was bought by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock for $500,000 as an Inglis Easter Yearling.
Bhima Thoroughbreds will offer her yearling half-brother by Dundeel at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale as Lot 1527.
Rhapsody Rose is the fifth Australian stakes-winner this season for Star Witness, who stands at Widden Stud Victoria at a fee of $16,500.
