News

A Star is born in G1 Sangster

27th Apr 2024

Unheralded sprinter Climbing Star (Zoustar) enjoyed a “coming of age’’ G1 win in today’s Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville.

The 4YO mare had predominantly raced at Group level throughout her 13 start career prior to today and relished the step up to the top grade with a barnstorming victory.

Inglis graduates filled the first five positions in today’s G1 as Climbing Star defeated Learning To Fly, Benedetta, I Am Me and Estriella.

Climbing Star becomes the 95^th G1-winning Inglis graduate since 2018.

Her trainer Phillip Stokes teamed up with Rick Connolly to purchase Climbing Star for $600,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale out of the Widden Stud draft.

Climbing Star (pictured) is bred by Sheikh Fahad’s Qatar Bloodstock, who retained a share in the mare and whose colours she races in.

It was another proud moment for Widden’s Antony Thompson, with their champion stallion Zoustar producing another G1 winner.

“He’s an elite sire and that’s what the good stallions do, they produce the good horses who win the good races,’’ Thompson said.

“Climbing Star is a great example of a Zoustar filly, she was well found at the Easter Sale to Phillip Stokes and Rick Connolly and credit to them, they worked very hard to put a syndicate together to buy her and luckily enough David Redvers liked her as well and kept a share for Sheikh Fahad, so congratulations to them and all the connections.

“It’s a great time of year and to be getting results at the important time of the year is what it’s all about and we’ve certainly enjoyed a good autumn.’’

Winning trainer Stokes added: “That was super. She’s raced in plenty of good Stakes races but probably just wasn’t quite ready for them but she’s come into her own now.

“This will be the coming of age for her, she’s just starting to blossom. We still haven’t seen the best of her and she’s got a great spring ahead of her later in the year.’’

Widden will offer a draft of 23 yearlings at tomorrow’s HTBA Sale at Riverside, which begins at 10am.

To view the catalogue CLICK HERE.

Earlier on the Morphettville program progressive filly Skybird (Exosphere) led in an Inglis graduates trifecta in the G2 Tobin Bronze Stakes, defeating Moesha and Pivot City.

Skybird is putting together a formidable overall record, with today’s win her fourth from just six starts and second at Group level.

The 3YO filly is a $110,000 buy for her trainer Mitch Freedman from the Classic Yearling Sale, where she was offered in the draft of her breeders HP Thoroughbreds.

Skybird has now won $500,000 in prizemoney and could add to that significantly by potentially next contesting the G1 Goodwood Handicap in a fortnight.

“We had a specific plan in place to come to either this race or to come to the [G1] Sangster [Stakes] but we thought the Sangster was heating up with the [$1m] prizemoney on offer and we were still building our fitness so we decided to come to the 3YO race,’’ Freedman said.

“If she pulls through today well enough she might be able to come back in two weeks’ time [for the Goodwood].

“The way she’s won today and I know she’s still got a good bit of improvement to come, she could come and compete in that sort of race and she’ll get the weight advantage being a 3YO filly. She’s a very good filly with plenty of upside.’’

And exciting Ciaron Maher-trained 2YO colt Growing Empire (Zoustar) annihilated his opposition to score an effortless 4.5L victory in the G3 Breeders’ Stakes over 1200m.

Growing Empire was having just his third career start but made it a second Stakes win in the most impressive fashion, suggesting he has a big future.

Yulong purchased Growing Empire for $700,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Vinery Stud.

Growing Empire is bred by Patrick Hodgens, Neil Werrett and Steve McCann’s Encompass International.

Meanwhile in Brisbane today talented filly Tiger Shark (Rich Enuff) scored a valuable first black type victory when winning the Listed Mick Dittman Plate at Eagle Farm.

It was a fourth career win at start No.11 for the 3YO, who looks set for a fruitful Queensland Winter Carnival, with trainer Natalie McCall having bigger races in sight.

Tiger Shark is a $15,000 bargain buy from the Great Southern Weanling Sale for Paul Kingsford Bloodstock, out of the Springmount draft.

She is bred by Springmount’s Michael Flannery along with Adrian Hall.