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Star Witness
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HenleyBrook
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you need to be able to run a strong 1200m to win it.
This horse will go on with it thats for sure. had no luck and still won = impressive.
think there are a few nice horses in that race
12 Mar 10
Star Witness chases double in Golden Slipper
Star Witness will head to Sydney next week in his quest to become the fifth horse to complete the Golden Slipper-Blue Diamond double.
Trainer Danny O'Brien confirmed a change of plans for the horse after a pleasing track gallop at Flemington yesterday.
"(Jockey) Nick (Hall) was happy and I was happy. There is fresh blood in Sydney, but the Blue Diamond form is standing up well," O'Brien said.
He planned to spell Star Witness after his Blue Diamond win, but said the horse had "put his hand up".
"The horse has come on really well. He's only had three runs and he wasn't going to race until the first week in September which is a long time to have off," O'Brien said.
"He will still get two months off before the spring."
Star Witness firmed from $10 to $9 after bets of $7000 and $5000 with TAB Sportsbet.
O'Brien will closely monitor the runs of Blue Diamond placegetter Beneteau and Crystal Lily (who ran sixth) in Golden Slipper lead-ups on Saturday, before sending Star Witness to Sydney to prepare for the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday week.
The Golden Slipper (1200m) is at Rosehill on Saturday, April 3. Connections must pay $150,000 late entry fees for Star Witness and Crystal Lily.
The last horse to complete the double was Courtza in 1989.
http://www.dannyobrienracing.com.au/index.asp?d=5A4C5A717251477C700800000006
Any thoughts?
Set to resume this weekend :wink:
Just a player plebiscite im afraid.
Yours was the first name that sprung to mind to repay the favour :lol:
Just means your special mate, thats all :wink:
With Group II racing at Flemington on Saturday, the course proper was made available to trainers on Tuesday and one galloper in particular has greatly impressed clocker Warren Huntly.
Blue Diamond-winner Star Witness, will line-up in the Group II Danehill Stakes (1200m), and according to Huntly, was simply outstanding in his work, on a track rated a dead (4) with the rail out 15 metres.
?He worked with stablemate Blink over half a mile and gave him a couple of lengths start and a beating,? Huntly said.
?Star Witness ran home his last 400m in 21.87 secs and appeared to be doing it very easily.
?I don?t think I would be too keen on him on a wet-track, but if he gets conditions to suit, he will be extremely hard to hold out on Saturday.?
Of Star Witness?s competitors on Saturday, the Robert Hickmott-trained Buffering had a testing gallop.
?Whilst Star Witness went around the bend, Buffering worked 1000m down the straight,? Huntly said.
?He ran quicker time than Star Witness, covering 1000m in 1:01, the last 400m in 21.05, but was asked to finish it off.
?It was very fast, impressive work, but, with the right conditions, I definitely favour Star Witness on Saturday.?
1 Sep 10
O
James Winks will replace Nick Hall as the rider of Blue Diamond Stakes winner Star Witness in this Saturday's Group 2 Danehill Stakes.
The move for the meeting at Flemington came after trainer Danny O'Brien this week elevated Winks to the position of stable rider.
O'Brien, who has never had a jockey in that role before, said he thought the time was ripe to have a stable rider with the success of the Peter Moody and Luke Nolen combination as his model.
"I've been thinking for a while about having a dedicated stable rider. I am looking for a committment from a jockey to turn up every day to work my horses and who wants to work in as part of a team,'' O'Brien said.
"I also want there to be some sort of accountability and I also don't want to have the revolving door of jockeys going on and off my horses. I want someone to be part of the team who will work hard to achieve mutuals goals.
Winks now has the first choice of all O'Brien runners and he quickly snapped up the ride on Star Witness this Saturday as well as Vigor in the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
Hall has ridden Star Witness in each of his five starts including a victory in the Blue Diamond Stakes in February.
"I've been tossing it around for a couple of months and I think the benefits of having a jockey on the same page works as it does in the case of Moody and Nolen,'' Winks said.
Winks said he was excited about getting the position especially its timing at the beginning of spring.
"I've done a lot of riding for Danny over the years so other than me being officially part of the team and having first choice not a lot will change,'' Winks said.
Winks' two Australian Group 1 winners have both been trained by O'Brien - Absolut Glam in the 2008 Winter Stakes and Douro Valley in the 2008 Yalumba Stakes.
He also rode a Group 1 winner in Hong Kong last year.
Winks is looking forward to riding Star Witness as he had impressed him in two gallops including yesterday's one with stablemate Blink and they covered the last 400m in 22.14 seconds.
"I wanted him to settle yesterday and get him to relax which is what he did,'' Winks said.
O'Brien was happy with Star Witness' work saying he was strong to the line and had a little bit in reserve which is what he wanted.
Star Witness finished third to Toorak Toff when he resumed from a spell and O'Brien said he was not at his peak for that run.
"If we swapped positions with him and we had of got some cover we would have finished off stronger. On Saturday he gets back to the straight which he loves,'' O'Brien said.
On Saturday O'Brien will again saddle up Vigor and Master O'Reilly in the Makybe Diva Stakes - a race they finished first and third in last year.
"Vigor's probably not as forward as he was last year but he's in good order. I'm happy with Master O'Reilly who often pulls out a run fresh.
Out for the spring?