Racing: Caulfield winner a star of the future

MELBOURNE - Star Witness is a colt with a huge future as a 3-year-old, said Flemington trainer Danny O'Brien, after he came with a powerful late finishing burst to win the A$1 million Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

A A$150,000 purchase at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Star Witness is a big, powerful son of Starcraft, who won five group one races in four countries.

The chestnut is out of the group three-winning Lion Hunter mare Leone Chiara, who was trained by O'Brien, who has a share in the ownership of the colt.

"He was a very nice yearling, almost the spitting image of his mother actually, but a male," O'Brien said on Saturday.

"It's a really good family and we've had really good success with it and the Starcraft blood is kicking in as well. I think he's the best one so far."

Ridden by Nick Hall, Star Witness ($10) looked as though he was too far back to win on straightening but unleashed to score by a half-neck from Shaaheq ($11) with Beneteau ($3.20 fav) the same margin away third.

"I knew what sort of furlong (200m) he could run at the finish and, fortunately, he did it," O'Brien said.

"I'm hoping he's not your average 2-year-old that can win the Blue Diamond. He's got a lot more scope than that and, hopefully, we've got a really exciting colt to race on next season."

O'Brien said he would not pursue a start for Star Witness in the Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill on April 3 as he wasn't entered for the race.

He said if he runs again this preparation it will be in the Sires' Produce Stakes at Flemington on March 6.

"We don't aim them for anything the 2-year-olds, we get them in and educate them and his two wins had been excellent [before Saturday]," he said.

"I really think he's a colt with a huge future, particularly next season. He's well above average."

Nick Hall said two-year-old races were always an unknown. "They are untapped and to come out of it No 1 is the best feeling ever.

"They smoked early, they really gave it to their horses and I just wanted to switch him off.

"Once he did back behind them like that I knew he'd be strong."

The David Hayes-trained Shaaheq dashed to the lead on turning for home but Hall brought Star Witness down the outside with a perfectly timed run to grab her and win by a half-neck.

Favourite Beneteau was the same margin away third after running home strongly from eighth mid-race. Caulfield's mounting yard erupted with 50 owners cheering home Starspangledbanner to a remarkable win in the group one Oakleigh Plate.

The Leon Corstens-trained 3-year-old was out on his feet as he hit the line a short head in front of dead-heaters Here De Angels and Arinos.

Jockey Danny Nikolic said it was a courageous win and declared the chestnut would be even better when he has his last Australian start in the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington in two weeks.

"I thought he had won but I didn't want to be overly confident because they kept charging at him and he started to stagger a little bit," Nikolic said. "It was a great effort because there is improvement in the horse."

Starspangledbanner's owners are enjoying the ride of their life on the back of the colt who will head to England to be trained by Aidan O'Brien after he was recently sold to Coolmore for A$10 million.

The current owners all get to keep the prizemoney from the Oakleigh Plate win as well as any earnings from the Newmarket before the horse is transferred officially to Coolmore.

Here De Angels' rider Michael Rodd was surprised when Starspangledbanner was declared the winner.

He said he didn't see Starspangledbanner, who was third most of the way, on his outside and thought the finish was between Here De Angels and Arinos.

- AAP