Recording their second juvenile winner in as many days, the Peter Snowden stable headed to Hawkesbury on Thursday where the unraced 2yo D’Argento filly Scuro Star made her debut over 1100m, defeating the older horses in the Family Funday 19 July F&M Maiden Plate.
With three trials under her belt, including a narrow second over 1030m on May 22, Scuro Star was one of four of the seven runners in Thursday race under double figure odds.
Away well under Rachel King from barrier 6, the filly drifted back to settle in a mid-field position as Blake Ryan’s Bold Alliance took up the running, narrowly ahead of Rising Revolution on his inside and Ho Aloha to his outside.
As the baldy faced Bold Alliance took the field into the home straight, Rising Revolution came up along the inside to grab the lead, while King was still sitting back in the second line of runners, but was starting to angle towards the outside of the leaders.
Scuro Star and the Brad Widdup trained race favourite Mind Ya Bizz were both working home down the middle of the track in arguably the better ground.
Once getting her head in front, Rachel King put the whip away and rode Scuro Star hands and heels to the line, holding off Mind Ya Bizz with the 3yo daughter of Heroic Valour finishing three-parts of a length back in second.
Bred by Adam Martin who co-races the filly in partnership with a large group of owners, Scuro Star is the first foal out of the unraced Star Turn mare Star Progeny, a half-sister to the G1 placed Mr Sneaky and the G2 placed Mr So And So as well as to the dam of G3 winner Sigh.
From the family of Danestorm and Danendri, G1 winners over 3200m and 2400m respectively, it would be of no surprise to see Scuro Star get over further as she matures, but to secure a juvenile victory on debut is a bonus for her pedigree.
Star Progeny has since foaled a colt by All Too Hard followed by a filly by the very same stallion, and in the spring was one of 75 mares covered by So You Think (NZ) before his untimely passing.
The second winner for D’Argento in as many days after the Archie Alexander trained Don’t Miss Many recorded his fifth victory with a fighting effort at Sandown on Wednesday, the progeny of the G1 Rosehill Guineas winner have been in solid form with ten winners and a further 18 placed runners since the start of May.
Having covered over 680 mares in his six seasons at stud, D’Argento is the sire of nine stakes performers and will stand for a fee of $16,500 (inc. GST) this season at James and Joss Daly’s Bowness Stud.
