Vaughan Marshall’s Seeking The Stars showed that he is no classical one-trick pony when he accelerated from just off the pace to win the R150 000 Gr3 Byerley Turk at Hollywoodbets Scottsvile on Sunday.
After failing to dominate the pace from the widest draw in a field of seven, Seeking The Stars was relaxed by Anton Marcus as Storm Chaser and My Bestie set the standard in the 1400m feature.
Halfway down the straight Seeking The Stars (11-10) moved forward as recent – and much fitter – Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes winner Vars Vicky (3-1) challenged.
At the 250m marker there was still a chance that the 15 week break would count against Seeking The Stars, but the work had been done and Anton Marcus pushed the Vercingetorix colt out to an easy 2,50 length victory in a time of 84,38 secs.
Seeking The Stars (Anton Marcus) returns from a 15 week break post the Cape Guineas to win well (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The Snaith’s Speed Machine (7-2) looked dangerous but failed to prove a threat and was 2,40 lengths further back in third.
The winner, a second feature success on the afternoon for the Marshall team, races for owner Ricky Sewgoolam, who attended his first racemeeting in close on two years on Sunday.
Seeking The Stars is a smashingly handsome Klawervlei Stud-bred son of Vercingetorix who cost R1 million on the 2019 Cape Yearling Sale, and went through the ring for R425 000 at the 2019 CTS Ready To Run Sale.
Seeking The Stars is one of several top-notch three-year-olds representing Silvano’s fast ascending son this season.
Others include Gr1 winner Vernichey, who was runner-up to Mirage in the Listed Kwazulu Natal Stakes on the day, as well as the likes of Forever Mine, Nartjie and Rascallion, with the latter regarded as a likely Vodacom Durban July contender.
Seeking The Stars is from the three-time winning Count Dubois mare Schism, who won up to 2200m.
Anton Marcus conceded that he wasn’t quite sure what Seeking The Stars’ optimal trip is.
The one blot on the colt’s copybook was a 2,15 length sixth behind Russian Rock in the Cape Guineas, after making the pace – his only try at a mile.
SA Triple Crown star Malmoos was 2,20 lengths behind him that day.
