Vinery Stud’s Star Turn took it to the final day in his quest for champion first-crop sire for individual winners. Despite the victory of the Kim Waugh-trained gelding Turning in a 1000m maiden at Muswellbrook on Saturday, Star Turn will fall one winner short of equalling Newgate Farms season-long leader Capitalist.
Ridden by Rory Hutchings, Turning came clear in the closing stages to defeat the Redoute’s Choice gelding Nadaraja by two and a quarter lengths with the Deep Field filly Loversfield a length further back in third.
It was the second start for Turning after making his debut with a troubled third at Scone on July 18.
Purchased by Kim Waugh Racing Stables for $70,000 from the Fairview Park Stud draft at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Turning is the fifth winner from as many to race out of the Fastnet Rock mare Miskish.
A winner at Rosehill and Randwick, Mishkish is a half-sister to the flying machine Nan Tien (Jan Murray), whose eight wins included the Listed City Tatts Lightning and Listed Carrington Stakes.
Star Turn finishes the season with 20 winners, 19 in Australia from 41 starters, and one in Hong Kong.
