3 minute read
Gelding hands Sea The Stars his 64th stakes winner
The Charlie Appleby-trained Volkan Star (3 g ex Chicago Dancer by Azamour) proved his mettle with an impressive victory in the Fairway Stakes (Listed, 1m2f) at Newmarket and in the process handed Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) with his 64th stakes winner.
Last seen finishing second in the Newmarket Stakes (Listed, 1m2f), the three-year-old gelding beat Thunderous (Night Of Thunder) by a length and three quarters and thus handed him his first career defeat. The Phoenix Thoroughbred-raced Do You Love Me (Galileo) - who cost a whopping €3,200,000 as a yearling - finished another 12 lengths further back in third.
"He put up a nice first start here and I felt he would come forward for that. William (Buick) was very pleased with him there,” said Appleby.
"Hopefully we can seek out a bit more improvement when he steps up in trip as he kept galloping and maintained a good gallop.
"His last run as a two-year-old in the Zetland, the ground was soft but his character was not going the right way. We gelded him and he has furnished well mentally and has allowed himself to do what you have seen this year.
"There are no fixed plans for him at the moment."
The gelding was purchased by Dromoland Farm for €330,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale from the Tinnakill House draft and then realised 1,000,000gns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when purchased for Stroud Coleman Bloodstock from the Longview Stud draft.
Volkan Star is out of unplaced Azamour (Night Shift) mare Chicago Dancer, who is herself a half-sister to Group 3 winner Skins Game (Diktat) and Listed scorer Epatha (Highest Honor).
Under the gelding’s third dam is Group 2 winner Mouramama (Kahyasi), who in turn produced 2013 Sydney Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Mourayan (Alhaarth), Listed winner Mourilyan (Desert Prince) and the dam of Group 2 winner Endless Time (Sea The Stars).
Sea The Stars’ 13 Group 1 winners include Sydney Cup winner Shraaoh and this year’s Australian Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Fifty Stars and he stood at Gilltown Stud for a fee of €150,000 in 2020.
