FLEM OCT 30 - WITNESS A STAR IN THE COOLMORE

By Taron Clarke | Monday, November 1, 2010

Flemington, October 30, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - True. Penetrometer: 4.58.
Coolmore Stud Stakes (Group 1) 3YO Open SW - 1200m.
Time: 1-09.96. 600m Sectional: 34.57. (Carrying 55.5 kg).
1 Star Witness; 2 Curtana; 3 Shrapnel.
Margins: 2.0L x 0.8L

Striking chestnut colt Star Witness, chalked up his second career Group 1 in the $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes over the straight six furlong’s at Flemington on Saturday afternoon.

After winning the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield in February, the son of Starcraft had figured only once in the placing’s in three subsequent starts.

Already a winner down the Flemington straight, in his second career start in the Listed Talindert Stakes over 1100 metres, Star Witness was said to have put in a winning gallop down the straight earlier in the week behind sprinting sensation Hay List.

Ridden by Danny O’Brien’s stable jockey James Winks, the pair were sent out equal favourites with Sydney filly Solar Charged who was coming off an impressive winning performance on Caulfield Cup day.

Only fairly into stride, Star Witness settled toward the inside of runners and Winks was able to latch on to the back of Solar Charged for a cart onto the course proper.

As the field of three-year-olds raced down the crown of the track and on to the course proper speedy filly Solar Charged led by a length and a half to Buffering who was being urged along by Hugh Bowman.

James Winks managed to ease Star Witness across the leader’s heels and get the colt to the outside at the 400 metre mark.

Solar Charged was put under immense pressure inside the 400 metres and Star Witness cruised up on her outside.

Winks then went full bore on the Starcraft colt and the pair raced a length in front of Solar Charged and Buffering who was battling on.

Down the outside of the field came Peter Moody’s filly Curtana with a well-timed run and she looked like she might pose a serious threat.

Just as Curtana ranged into contention, Star Witness found another gear on the slippery surface and the three-year-old bounded away to score a confortable victory by two lengths from Curtana with three quarters of a length back to Shrapnel in third place.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Danny O’Brien: “I trained his three-quarter brother Ferocity to win an Ascot Vale and always from the time he won as a two-year-old we had it in our minds that the straight course would be his best racing.

“Even though he won the Diamond at two, he fumbles the corner every time he gets around Caulfield.

“I’ve been looking forward to this all spring. We missed the Guineas with this in mind. We were patient all spring.

“We left the Guineas alone and aimed at this race with the option of running in another Group 1 next Saturday. He's justified it today and we've got another crack now next Saturday in the Patinack Farm Classic.

“We picked a target with him this spring and it's pretty important you get it right. Seeing him trail on Tuesday we knew he was going to be at his best today.

“He will back-up provided he does well. It is only his third run this spring. We always left the petrol in the tank to have two cracks Cup week.

“He might even improve out of today. He was a little bit burly after the trial on Tuesday and I am sure he will back-up well.

“There was a lot riding on today so to produce him and have him produce has been very satisfying.

“Everyone's got to go through the rain and it was our day today to turn up … whatever happened.

“If you're a top-line horse like him you've got to produce come rain hail or shine and when the big days are on you've got to make no excuses and we weren't making any today.

“The Patinack Farm Stakes is probably going to be one of the best sprinting races run anywhere in the world this year and we are pleased to be part of it.

“We are not taking lightly. It is Weight for Age so we do get a little bit of a weight advantage.

“If he wins next Saturday he can lay claim to being one of the best sprinters in the world.

“He's very highly-rated colt now. He's won a Group 1 at two and a Group 1 at three and hopefully there's a couple more to come.

Jockey James Winks: "We've planned this race for a long time and it's great when they actually pay off.

"Being the stable jockey makes the win even more special. All of his owners have put their faith in me and I'm fortunate enough to ride a horse like Star Witness.

“He did the job today. He just travelled so good.

“He's a totally different horse down the straight. He finds a rhythm. He relaxes and I actually had to grab a hold of him again because he was just going to get there too early.

“When I pushed the button he put it beyond doubt.

“Like I said I'm fortunate and hopefully it's onwards and upwards from here.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Star Witness): 4.00 out to 5.00.
Equal Favourite (Solar Charged): 4.80 out to 5.00. Finished tenth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Correct weight was delayed when N Rawiller rider of Pressday requested to view the video footage of the start.

It was established that Pressday reared up as the start was effected and as the Stewards were of the view that the colt had been afforded a fair opportunity to start with the field correct weight was semaphored.

Near the 500m No Hesitation shifted out and away from Soul. This resulted in General Truce, which was following, shifting out and inconveniencing Curtana.

L Nolen rider of Curtana pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under the provisions of AR137a, the careless riding being that near the 300m he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of General Truce resulting in that horse being crowded in onto Soul and as a result both General Truce and Soul were checked.

In laying the charge the Stewards did concede there was a small shift from Buffering.

L Nolen had his licence to ride in races suspended for a period to commence at midnight November 2 and to expire at midnight November 11, a total of nine race meetings (two city, seven country).

In assessing penalty Stewards took into account L Nolen’s guilty plea and the careless riding was in the mid-range category.

The track was downgraded from Good 3 to Dead 4 after the running of this race at 1.34pm and was made retrospective for the running of Race 4.

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