Whenever it appears safe to claim that Capitalist has a stranglehold on the first season sires tile for number of winners, Star Turn counters with a winner of his own.
So it was at Canterbury on Wednesday. No sooner had Capitalist taken his number of individual winners in Australia to eleven (plus one in NZ), courtesy of the filly Socialist, Star Turn struck back with the promising colt Astrologer.
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Astrologer finished a luckless third in the Group III Breeders' Plate at Randwick back in October before finishing just behind the placegetters in the Wyong Magic Millions and the Group III Bruce McLachlan Stakes.
Following an absence of 16 weeks, the son of Star Turn finished second at Canterbury on April 21.
He made no mistake on Wednesday. Under a positive ride from a wide gate by Tommy Berry, Astrologer eased out of the early speed battle to enjoy a perfect trail behind Best Side and the favourite Overmann.
When he took the lead at the 200 metres, Astrologer looked set for an easy win, but he found a willing opponent in the Hinchinbrook gelding Overmann, who begrudgingly yielded in the final 50 metres to go down by a half-length.
The Dissident gelding Bartoselli was four lengths further back in third.
"It was a well-judged ride by Tommy," Paul Snowden said.
"When the rain came, it gave us a good deal of confidence. His Wyong Magic Millions run wasn't that bad on a wet track; he just got too far back on that occasion.
"He has taken a bit of time to get his maiden out of the way, but he can certainly go on with it.”
James Harron Bloodstock purchased Astrologer for $300,000 out of the Edinglassie Thoroughbreds draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
That made him the second most expensive yearling from the first crop of the Vinery Stud resident.
A half-brother to the stakes-placed Deep Filed gelding Deep Speed, Astrologer is the third winner from as many to race out of the unraced Fastnet Rock mare Fast 'N' Witty.
Boomer Bloodstock purchased Fast 'N' Witty for $50,000 out of the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2018 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale when carrying Astrologer.
She is a sister to stakes-placed Fastnet Rock mare Fast Talker the dam of stakes-winners Persuader and The Actuary.
From one of Contract Racings best families, Fast 'n' Witty is a half-sister to stakes-winner Crystal Dreamer (Stratum) out of the Listed SAJC Dequetteville Stakes winner Crystal Wit (Distorted Humor), a half-sister to the Group 1 Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily.
Neil Jenkinson purchased Fast 'N' Witty's Hellebebt filly for $150,000 at this year's Magic Millions.
After missing to Hellbent in 2019, Fast 'N' Witty was covered by the Yarraman Park stallion last spring.
Star Turn takes his tally of individual winners to ten (plus one in Hong Kong), one behind Capitalist.
The magnificent chestnut son of Star Witness looks sure to be popular again at the forthcoming season at a fee of $16,500.
