Narrowly defeated at his career debut at Kembla on April 27, the 2-year-old Star Turn colt Megastar Heart went one better in the Golden Mile @ Darley Hcp (1400m) at Canterbury.
Ridden by Tom Sherry for Annabel Neasham, Megastar Heart led at every call to defeat The Autumn Sun colt Mr Artemisia by a half-length, with the Brave Smash (JPN) gelding Smashing Time back in third.
"He a lovely horse but still very babyish," Annabel Neasham said.
"He was wandering around, swishing his tail in the straight.
"He has always shown a lot and they ran good time at Kembla, so we came here confident.
"The heavy track was a bit of an unknown.
"He will certainly go up in trip. He is a lovely, big, strong horse.
"Well done to (owner) Pato Leung, who bought him at the breeze-up sale. He wasn't cheap, a very expensive purchase, but it looks as though he will repay him.
"He is still big and raw and will only improve as a 3-year-old. Whether we give him a trip to Brisbane, we will see how he comes through this, but he is a horse with plenty of promise."
Bred by Dr Ian Duckworth and consigned by Fairview Park Stud to the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Megastar Heart was a $120,000 purchase for Solari Bloodstock.
Reoffered by KB Bloodstock to the 2023 NZB Ready To Run Sale, the son of Star Turn made a sales-topping $825,000 to the bid of Hong Kong-based Pato Leung.
He is the first live foal of the winning Foxwedge mare Commonwealth.
A $250,000 yearling, Commonwealth is out of the Canny Lad mare Our Pride And Joy, a half-sister to 4-time Group 1 winner Criterion, Group 1 Doomben Cup winner Comin' Through, Group II BTC Cup winner Varenna Miss, and Listed winner Silently.
Commonwealth has a yearling filly by Anfers that sold for $30,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. She was covered by Hitotsu last spring, having missed to Saxon Warrior in 2022.
Star Turn stands the forthcoming season at Vinery Stud for $27,500.
