Cordyceps Six breaks maiden at Sha Tin
Fresh from siring his first stakes winner when Miss Hipstar landed the Dalrello Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at Morphettville on Saturday, Vinery Stud-based first-season sire Star Turn (Star Witness) added a ninth winner to his record when Cordyceps Six (2 g ex Sandcastles by Hinchinbrook) landed the Argonaut Griffin Plate (1000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The Richard Gibson-trained two-year-old gelding finished seventh on debut at Sha Tin on April 11 and he showed his class on his second start, beating Turbo Power (Mizzen Mast) by three-quarters of a length, while Smart Idea (Swiss Ace) was the same distance away in third.
Cordyceps Six was purchased by Sledmere Stud for $25,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale in 2019 and he was then bought for $140,000 by N Lee at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale last year.
The gelding is out of unraced Hinchinbrook (Fastnet Rock) mare, who is herself a daughter of Listed-placed Junebug (Shovdog) and she is a half-sister to Listed winner Light Sweeper (End Sweep).
Further back this is the same pedigree as Group 1 winner Heat Of The Moment (Blazing Saddles) and Listed-winning duo Urban Groove (Charge Forward) and Wasted Emotions (Desert Prince).
In 2019 Sandcastles produced a filly by former Arrowfield Stud shuttler Real Impact (Deep Impact), before foaling a filly by Star Turn’s barnmate Headwater (Exceed And Excel) and she was covered by Sun City (Zoustar) in November.
Star Turn’s first-crop also includes stakes-placed trio Stellar Magic, Pegasi and Astrologer and he is sitting second behind Capitalist (Written Tycoon) in the race to be crowned champion first-season by number of winners.
Meanwhile at Sha Tin, Butterfield (5 g Setembro Chove - Londrinita by Fahim) landed the Queen Mother Memorial Cup (Gr 3, 2400m) at Sha Tin, his first stakes win in Hong Kong since he arrived from his native Brazil.
A three-time Grade 1 winner in Brazil, the six-year-old gelding came out on top a close finish to beat Charity Fun (War Command) by a nose, while Reliable Team (Reliable Man) was another head away in third.
