CAUL FEB 20 - STAR WITNESS SENSATIONAL IN BLUE DIAMOND WIN

By Scott Gooley | Sunday, February 21, 2010

Caulfield, 20 February 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True.
Blue Diamond Stakes (Group 1 - 2yo Open - Set Weights) - 1200m.
Time: 1-10:42. (Carrying 55.5kg).
1 Star Witness; 2 Shaaheq; 3 Beneteau.

Trainer Danny O’Brien’s colt Star Witness, remains undefeated after a scintillating win in the Group One Arrowfield Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Star Witness scored on debut in November of last year and then returned with an impressive victory at Flemington in January, where he claimed the Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m) by a comfortable 1.50 lengths over Tricky Tricky and Willow Creek.

The only hiccup in Star Witness’s campaign came when the barrier draw was conducted for the Blue Diamond. Drawing the second widest gate in the field of fifteen runners, punters were less enthusiastic about his chances and he went to the starter a $10 chance.

Ridden by Nicholas Hall, Star Witness began well but Hall immediately took hold of the colt and, after travelling 400m, had settled in second last position eight lengths of the leaders, Crystal Lily and Spirit Cent.

Approaching the 600m mark, the field began to bunch and whilst still in thirteenth position, Star Witness was only six lengths off the lead.

Rounding the turn, Hall had commenced to ease Star Witness away from the fence and found himself on the back of race favourite, Beneteau ($3.20). It was at the point that the son of Starcraft was forced wide and became noticeably unbalanced as the outward move cost him ground.

Hall quickly balanced up the young colt and, upon straightening for the run home, he was the widest runner and still seven lengths off the pace.

With 250m to run the David Hayes trained Shaaheq, who had been ridden a treat by her Jockey Danny Nikolic, had burst to the lead and looked to have the race in her keeping.

It was at this point that Star Witness, still in arrears of the lead by six lengths, began to lengthen his stride and, together with Beneteau, began to quickly eat into the healthy lead Shaaheq had established.

With only 50m to run, Star Witness was still a length behind Sheeheq but so quickly was he travelling that, as the runners crossed the line in what was a fantastic finish, he had recorded a half neck victory over Shaaheq ($11) with a similar margin to Beneteau in third.

“It was very exciting!” said O’Brien on the performance of his colt.

“Not much went right. He wobbled round the corner and he was near last when they straightened, but we’ve got a lot of confidence in this colt.”

“He does things that only really top class horses can do.”

O’Brien went on to explain that Star Witness was never specifically aimed at the Blue Diamond at the commencement of his campaign.

“We don’t aim at anything with two-year-olds.”

“We get them in and educate them, but he’s two runs had been excellent. We ran him in the Talindert and he ran so well, that obviously we had to run him today.” stated O’Brien.

“I really think he’s colt with a huge future, particularly next season. He’s well above average.”

O’Brien is taking no risks in allowing the two-year-old to fulfil his prediction as he will be by-passing the opportunity of tackling the Golden Slipper.

“No, he’s not entered for the Slipper. If he runs again, it’ll be in the Sires, but he’ll be going to the paddock and I’m looking forward to getting him for the Spring.”

An assessment well supported by Nicholas Hall.

“When he comes back and relaxes next time in, he’ll be a super horse.” declared Hall.

“He began ok. He was a bit aggressive early as he can be but, when I had him in behind them, he let go of the bridle and I knew I was sweet from then on.”

As for the “wobble” around the home turn?

“I wanted to be out there in the clear getting at them but, as I said, he was a little bit aggressive when I clicked him up into the bridle and probably over did it a little bit.

Star Witness is the first yearling out of the Group Three winning mare Leone Chiara, herself a full sister to the Group Two winners, Chinchilla Rose and Ferocity. The latter also trained successfully by O’Brien.

PRICES:
Star Witness 10.00; Shaaheq 11.00; Beneteau 3.20 (favourite).

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Evidentia jumped awkwardly and lost ground. Also at the start Crystal Lily shifted in and made heavy contact with Willow Creek. Psychologist jumped awkwardly and veered out after the start. She’s Got Gears jumped awkwardly and was then checked off the heels of Roulettes which shifted in.

Near the 700m Shaaheq, which was over-racing, shifted in after being initially taken in by Spirit Cent and this caused some crowding to Sweet Cheeks and Roulettes before Shaaheq could be straightened. She’s Got Gears which was following had to be checked off the heels of Sweet Cheeks for some distance. Evidentia which was following She’s Got Gears shied and shifted in making contact with the running rail and as a result was checked severely and lost considerable ground.

Near the 500m Spirit Cent was commencing to give ground resulting in Bit Of A Dude which was following having insufficient racing room and as a result Bit Of A Dude was checked off the heels of Spirit Cent forcing Beneteau, Star Witness and Legalistic extremely wide on the track rounding the home turn. Just prior to this incident when Bit Of A Dude had insufficient racing room it shifted in tightening the running of Willow Creek which in turn shifted in causing Secession to be checked.

Whilst the degree of interference suffered to a number of runners in particular Secession was severe it could not be attributed to the carelessness of any rider or riders as the major contributing factor was Spirit Cent giving ground.

After passing the 200m Willow Creek shifted in and bumped She’s Got Gears.

N Hall rider of Star Witness was fined the sum of $500 under the provisions of AR137(c) for his celebratory gesture prior to the winning post.

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