While it looked safe a few weeks ago to pencil in Capitalist as leading first season sire for number of winners, Star Turn drew within two of the lead following the win of Galaxy Cat at Belmont on Saturday. Then to complete a good weekend for the Vinery Stud-based stallion, his stakes-winning daughter Miss Hipstar led every step of the way in Sunday’s Bruce McLaughlin Classic at the Sunshine Coast.
It was a welcome return to form for the Kelly Schweida-trained filly, who had disappointed twice since defeating fellow star Turn filly Stellar Magic the Listed Dalrello Stakes at Eagle Farm on May 1.
Taking advantage of the 3kg claim of Alex Patis to negate her penalty, Miss Hipstar stayed on strongly to defeat the Headwater filly You'll Be Mist by a half-length with Berdini's Girl (Odyssey Moon) a further three-quarters of a length back in third.
It was the fourth win in eight starts for Miss Hipstar taking her earnings to $217,775.
Purchased by her trainer for $150,000 out of the Vinery Stud draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Miss Hipstar is a half-sister to the Group II ATC Sweet Embrace Stakes runner-up Still Single (More Than Ready) out of the Listed ATC Keith Mackay Hcp winner Single Style.
A daughter of Not A Single Doubt, Single Style has a yearling filly by More Than Ready (USA) and a weanling filly by Zoustar. She was covered by Exceedance last spring.
Miss Hipstar had the honour of being the first winner and first stakes-winner for Star Turn whose tally of individual winners in Australia has grown to 16. That puts him two behind the long-term front runner Capitalist, while he moves to fifth leading first-crop sire on earnings.
The son of Star Witness stands at a fee of $16,500 at Vinery Stud this spring.
