There were four races run at Randwick on Saturday worth $1million or more and the $1million Listed ATC Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m) went the way of progressive Star Witness gelding Iknowastar.
Trained by Bjorn Baker and ridden by Rachel King, Iknowastar has been super consistent since the start of the year racking up multiple stakes-placings and wins.
A last start fifth in the $1.5million ATC Alan Brown Stakes behind Here to Shock, Iknowastar improved off that effort to score a tenacious win, leading for home and holding on in a tight finish to win by a head.
An $80,000 Inglis Premier purchase from Widden Stud for Bjorn Baker Racing / Clarke Bloodstock, Iknowastar has the overall record of 10 wins and six placings from 25 starts with prizemoney topping $1million.
Rachel King has ridden Iknowastar in many of his races and knows him well.
“I don’t have much choice, he just does what he wants. That’s him. Again, he didn’t jump that well today. He’s just being a bit of a pest in the gates, he’s actually feeling so well, he’s probably almost too well. I nearly went to Plan B but he had other ideas,” she said.
“One good head shake and a pull of the reins, I was like, ‘Ok mate, you do you’. I let him be in control but that’s when he’s happiest. He’s just tough. I thought I was beaten, to be honest. I thought the other horse got its head down on the line, but he deserves it because he’s Mr Consistent.”
Iknowastar is the best of four winners from Hidden Message, a five time winning Pentire (GB) mare, whose grand-dam is stakes-winner Queen of State.
Star Witness is riding high at the moment through the deeds of his Group winning filly Bellatrix Star and is unbeatable value at Widden Victoria this spring at a fee of $8,800
