HK Stakes-Winner for Star Turn

Tara Madgwick - Sunday May 22

Australasian bred sprinters filled the trifecta in the Group III Sha Tin Vase (1200m ) on Sunday with three year-old Star Turn gelding Cordyceps Six proving too good for Nervous Witness (Star Witness) and Lucky Patch (El Roca).

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Cordyceps Six wins the G3 Sha tin Vase - image HKJC

Trained by Richard Gibson, Cordyceps Six has been super consistent in his career to date rarely missing a place and produced a career best performance to win his first try at a Black Type race.

He powered to the line to win by a neck taking his overall record to six wins and four placings from 12 starts.
 



Cordyceps Six completed a meteoric rise with this brilliant win over Nervous Witness as the younger brigade prevailed over Hong Kong’s established sprinters.

Rated 60 at the start of the season, the Star Turn three-year-old has surged through the grades, starting with a Class 4 win in September to reach 100 in the handicap before Sunday’s career-best performance. He now boasts six wins and four minor placings from 12 starts with earnings of more than HK$9 million, a figure boosted by a Top-Up Bonus of HK$500,000.

“It’s very rare that three-year-olds do the job at this time. As a stable, we’re very proud of our big-race record,” said Gibson, who also trains champion sprinter Wellington.

“It was a wonderful ride from Alexis and I’ve got a special word for my staff because this horse was very tricky before the race.

“He ‘washes’ out in the paddock and they did a really good job today. He was a bit calmer than in his previous start so a big high-five to the guys. It’s pretty rare for a top racehorse to be so ‘washed’ out pre-race.

“He gets very upset before a race and it’s only when he gets out on the track that he starts to relax better.  Alexis said he didn’t get the best of track runs in the traffic. I thought we came up to Nervous Witness very easily but it took a lot to get past him.”

A $140,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Sledmere Stud draft for N Lee, Cordyceps Six was a successful pinhook having been bought for just $25,000 out of the Newgate draft at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.

Bred by Henderson Racing and Cook Bloodstock, Cordyceps Six was foaled and raised at Newgate and  is the first foal from unraced Hinchinbrook mare Sandcastles, a daughter of stakes-placed June Bug from the family of Group I winner Heat of the Moment.

Sandcastles has changed hands several times in recent years, most recently for $20,000 at the Inglis Broodmare Sale in 2020 and she was covered by Power (GB) last spring after missing to Sun City.

Star Turn is the sire of Cordyceps Six.

Cordyceps Six is the third stakes-winner for Vinery Stud’s Star Turn, who stands at a fee of $27,500.


 

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Race Result - The Sha Tin Vase Gr3 1200m

Sha Tin Track: Good Time: 1:08.40
1
Cordyceps Six
- 3g Star Turn (AUS) x Sandcastles (AUS) (Hinchinbrook (AUS))
Tnr: Richard Gibson Rdr: A Badel 51.5
Star Turn
2
0.3
Nervous Witness
- 4g Star Witness (AUS) x Hadiklaim (AUS) (War Pass (USA))
Tnr: D A Hayes Rdr: V Borges 52
Star Witness
3
2.3
Lucky Patch
- 5g El Roca (AUS) x Gould (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: Jerry Chau 59
4
2.4
Lucky Express
- 5g Toronado (IRE) x Il Diamante (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: A Hamelin 55.5
5
2.8
Super Wealthy
- 6g Epaulette (AUS) x Well Hidden (USA) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: D A Hayes Rdr: Z Purton 57
6
3.0
Computer Patch
- 5g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Girl Hussler (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: K H Ting Rdr: M Chadwick 57
7
3.1
Sky Field
- 5g Deep Field (AUS) x Laravissante (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C Fownes Rdr: B Shinn 60.5
8
3.5
Sight Success
- 5g Magnus (AUS) x Tarp (AUS) (Bletchley Park (IRE))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: K Teetan 56.5
9
4.3
Californiadeepshot
- 5g Deep Field (AUS) x Vormista (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: M F Poon 52
10
4.8
Duke Wai
- 6g Per Incanto (USA) x Swan Lake (NZ) (Green Perfume (USA))
Tnr: P D O'Sullivan Rdr: C Y Ho 53.5
11
6.5
Hot King Prawn
- 7g Denman (AUS) x De Chorus (AUS) (Unbridled's Song (USA))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: J Moreira 57
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