New SW Star Turn -Megastar Heart All Heart in Oxlade Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday June 15

The 2023 NZB Ready To Run Sale topper, Megastar Heart, made another repayment when opening his stakes account with an incredibly courageous performance in Saturday's Listed SEN Oxlade Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm.

A sea of red and yellow (image Grant Courtney)

James McDonald travelled four wide the trip on the son of Star Turn, who refused to yield to the I Am Invincible colt Embassy for a hard-fought win by a head.

The winner's stablemate Depth Of Character(Deep Field) was two and a quarter lengths back in third.

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Sensationally backed, Megastar Heart advances his record to two wins and a second from four starts for Annabel Neasham, who said she is hopeful the colt will remain in  Australia.

"He’s a beautiful colt, and I just have to persuade his owner to keep him in Australia for another year before whisking him off to Hong Kong,” Neasham said.

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uo;It was always going to be tricky from that draw and we didn’t necessarily want to lead because he was up on the speed last start.

“He’s still quite green, and we thought there’d be something to follow up. We left it up to James and he felt there was not enough speed to go back so he conceded to being three-wide if he had to be and still managed to look like he’d tuck in and get a bit of cover.

“I think he’s a really nice colt and he’ll be better again next year. He’s just very natural. I’ll be interested to see what James says because he’s obviously ridden a lot of the nice ones.

“I’d say this is well up there with one of the nicest two-year-olds I’ve had.”

Bred by Dr Ian Duckworth and consigned by Fairview Park Stud to the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Megastar Heart was a $120,000 purchase for Solari Bloodstock.

Exciting prospect (image Grant Courtney)

Reoffered by KB Bloodstock to the 2023 NZB Ready To Run Sale, the son of Star Turn made a sales-topping $825,000 to the bid of Hong Kong-based Pato Leung.

He is the first live foal of the winning Foxwedge mare Commonwealth.

A $250,000 yearling, Commonwealth is out of the Canny Lad mare Our Pride And Joy, a half-sister to 4-time Group 1 winner  Criterion, Group 1 Doomben Cup winner Comin' Through, Group II BTC Cup winner Varenna Miss, and Listed winner Silently.

A $120,000 Inglis Classic yearling, Megastar Heart sold for a sale-topping $825,000 at the NZB Ready To Run Sale

Commonwealth has a yearling filly by Anders that sold for $30,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. She was covered by Hitotsu last spring, having missed to Saxon Warrior in 2022.

Megastar Heart is the eighth stakes-winner for Star Turn, who stands for the forthcoming season at Vinery Stud for $27,500.

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Race Result - SEN Oxlade Stakes LR 1300m

Eagle Farm Track: Good(4) Time: 1:16.12
1
Megastar Heart
- 2c Star Turn (AUS) x Commonwealth (AUS) (Foxwedge (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
Star Turn
2
0.2
Embassy
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Dendee (AUS) (Denman (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: B Shinn 57
I Am Invincible
3
2.4
Depth Of Character
- 2c Deep Field (AUS) x Caricature (NZ) (Power (GB))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Tom Sherry 57
4
2.5
Astapor
- 2c Tassort (AUS) x Black Mink (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Clinton Taylor Rdr: Justin P Stanley 57
5
2.7
Heinous
- 2f Brutal (NZ) x Nais Ko (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Jason Warren Rdr: L Currie 55
6
3.9
Don't Forget Jack
- 2g Headwater (AUS) x Innishbeg (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: S C Jones Rdr: R Hutchings 57
7
4.2
Tehina
- 2f Toronado (IRE) x Lyuba (AUS) (Turffontein (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: J R Collett 55
8
4.9
Territory Ash
- 2f Territories (IRE) x Shamardani (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: L F Birchley Rdr: R Dolan 55
9
5.1
Peace Centre
- 2c Written Tycoon (AUS) x Fundamentalist (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Craig Williams 57
10
5.4
Silva 'N' Suave
- 2g D'argento (AUS) x My Word (AUS) (Viscount (AUS))
Tnr: A J Edmonds Rdr: V Duric 57
11
6
Heavenly Impact
- 2c Harry Angel (IRE) x Striking Meteor (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: Marcus Wilson Rdr: James Orman 57
12
6.6
Astra Star
- 2g Cosmic Force (AUS) x Al Nova (AUS) (Al Samer (AUS))
Tnr: G R Green Rdr: Leslie Tilley 57
13
6.7
Tiye
- 2f American Pharoah (USA) x Second Time Lucky (NZ) (Any Suggestion (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Tommy Berry 55
14
10.4
Appellant
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Donna's Appeal (AUS) (Carnegie (IRE))
Tnr: D L Freedman Rdr: M J Dee 55
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