Star Stayer Wins G3 JRA Cup

Tara Madgwick - Friday September 23

Galileo’s champion half-brother Sea the Stars is getting very close to his century of stakes-winners with imported stayer Desert Icon (FR) becoming  his 99th stakes-winner when taking out the Group III MVRC JRA Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night in the Star Thoroughbreds colours.

Desert Icon scores a commanding win in the G3 JRA Cup -image Grant Courtney

Trained by Chris Waller, Desert Icon opened up a big lead turning for home and kept up a good gallop for Brett Prebble to win by more than three lengths.

"He's a horse that once he starts finding form that he holds it quite well. Brett certainly suits him. He rode him perfectly and he seems to have figured him out now especially around The Valley and pressing the buttons at the right time and getting the job done,” said stable representative Jo Taylor.

There are no lofty plans for Desert Icon, who was stakes-placed in the UK and has the overall record of six wins and eight placings from 23 starts earning over $400,000.

Advertisement

"I think we'll just take it one step at a time. There are bigger tasks that he can be set for but it really was just to see what he could step up to this preparation and tonight again it was a step up for him and he showed that he's up to the task,” Taylor said.

Desert Icon was bought for 210,000 guineas by his trainer  from the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale in 2020 and runs for an ownership group that includes Star Thoroughbreds.

Desert Icon is a half-brother to stakes-placed Gardol City and is the best of five winners from Plume Rose, who comes from the family of Arc winner and European Horse of the Year Peintre Celebre.

Advertisment

Race Result - Jra Cup Gr3 2040m

Moonee Valley Track: Soft(6) Time: 2:09.17
1
Desert Icon
- 7g Sea The Stars (IRE) x Plume Rose (GB) (Marchand De Sable (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Prebble 54
2
3.5
Nerve Not Verve
- 7m Shocking (AUS) x Bilancia (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Jamie Kah 54
3
4.0
Persan
- 6g Pierro (AUS) x Ofcourseican (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Damian Lane 57
Pierro
4
6.2
Makram
- 6g Make Believe (GB) x Spontaneous (IRE) (Sinndar (IRE))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
5
7.0
Grand Promenade
- 7g Champs Elysees (GB) x Zacchera (GB) (Zamindar (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: B Melham 57
6
7.7
Sound
- 10h Lando (GER) x Sky Dancing (IRE) (Exit To Nowhere (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: J Mott 56.5
7
9.2
Prix De Turn
- 4h Turn Me Loose (NZ) x Prix Du Sang (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: Matthew Brown Rdr: Beau Mertens 54
8
12.7
Aurora's Symphony
- 6g Glass Harmonium (IRE) x Aurora's Hot (AUS) (Fantastic Light (USA))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 27
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
New Stakes-Winner for Star Aussie Mare Sea Siren
Aussie bred Fastnet Rock mare Sea Siren has certainly made her mark both on the racetrack where she was a triple Group I winner and at stud with her produce record is headed by triple Group I winner Warm Heart and over the weekend she produced another stakes-winner and he won the richest race in Poland.
My Wish on Track for G1 HK International Mile
The Mark Newnham trained Flying Artie gelding My Wish was crowned Most Improved Horse at the annual awards night in Hong Kong at the end of last season and has wasted no time confirming that potential with a dazzling first up win in the Group III Celebration Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Record-Breaking Weetwood Win To Dundeel’s Tavs
Having not raced since fourth in the Listed BRC Spear Chief Handicap (1500m) during the Brisbane Winter Carnival, the Mark Currie trained Tavs (Dundeel) resumed from a spell to record his first black type victory, winning the Listed Weetwood (1200m) at Toowoomba on Saturday in track record time.
Favourite Whisky On The Hill (GB) Wins Listed R.M. Ansett Classic
With just a small field of seven runners jumping away in the Listed MRC R.M. Ansett Classic (2415m) at Mornington on Sunday, it was the Glen Thompson trained Whiskey On The Hill (GB) (Ribchester) who took the prize, securing his first black type victory.
Bred to Win a Caulfield Guineas?
It’s been a good weekend for Yarraman Park's champion sire I Am Invincible with a G1 winner and a colt soon to roll the dice in a G1 of his own.
Pedigree Watch – G1 European 2YO
Juveniles took centre stage overnight in the UK and Ireland with a pair of Group I races decided at Newmarket in the Middle Park Stakes (6f) for the colts and Cheveley Park Stakes (6f) for the fillies, while at The Curragh a field of 30 lined up in the Goffs Million, the richest 2YO race in Europe.
Waterford Wins G2 Shannon Stakes
Talented import Waterford (IRE) has long promised to win a stakes race and he did the job in spectacular fashion at Rosehill on Saturday when scoring a dominant win in the $300,000 Group II ATC Shannon Stakes (1500m).
Sires With Winners - Sunday September 28
Here is the full list of 73 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Inglis Ready2Race Purchase Headed to $3million Big Dance
Sales for two year-olds in training are looming on the horizon for all three auction houses and the $150,000 Dubbo Gold Cup (1600m) on Sunday has eligibility for the $3million Big Dance for the winner and it was progressive Exceedance 4YO Cristal Clear, who claimed the prize.