By Tom Frary
Already proven at The Curragh, having won the five-furlong May 3 Listed First Flier S., the Fozzy Stack-trained Castle Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) made light work of Saturday's G3 GAIN Marble Hill S. over six. Anchored in rear early and a touch detached as Chris Hayes exuded confidence, the 5-2 second favourite cruised down the outer of his hard-ridden peers and after striking the front approaching the final half-furlong quickened clear for an impressive two-length defeat of the well-backed 15-8 favourite Masseto (GB) (Territories {Ire}). “It's not often you see someone taking a pull a furlong out,” Stack commented. “He's very straightforward, has a great constitution, bounces out of his races and is uncomplicated. If I didn't run him this week he would have killed somebody at home!”
Runner-up to It'll Do My Day (Ire) (The Last Lion {Ire}) on debut over this trip at Cork Apr. 3 and to Ballydoyle's Glounthaune (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) over this course and distance Apr. 17 prior to his First Flier success, Castle Star is Royal Ascot-bound according to his trainer. “The first day in Cork, Chris got there a bit soon and we are learning how to ride him now,” his trainer added. “The plan in my head after the last day was to go straight to Ascot, but he was going to come out over the door so we said we'd bring him up here and see how we got on. The [June 15 G2] Coventry is a possibility, but I wouldn't rule anything in or out. There is the [G2] Railway back here, which deserves consideration and we'll just see nearer the time.”
Castle Star is currently the last known foal out of Awohaam (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), a daughter of the GIII Vinery Matchmaker S. winner Horatia (Ire) (Machiavellian) and therefore a half to the G3 Pinnacle S. winner and GI E. P. Taylor S.-placed Moment In Time (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}). Horatia, who is the ancestress of the G2 Lowther S. winner Living In the Past (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {Ire}) and last year's G2 Mill Reef S. scorer Alkumait (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), hails from the family of the multiple group-winning stayer Opinion Poll (Ire) (Halling) and the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S.-winning sire Markofdistinction (GB).
Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
GAIN MARBLE HILL S.-G3, €50,000, Curragh, 5-22, 2yo, 6fT, 1:14.88, sf/hy.
1–CASTLE STAR (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Starspangledbanner (Aus)
1st Dam: Awohaam (Ire), by Iffraaj (GB)
2nd Dam: Horatia (Ire), by Machiavellian
3rd Dam: Ahead (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Mrs T Gaffney, Mrs Treasa O'Loughlin & Mrs Barbara Murphy; B-Churchtown Bloodstock, Grouseridge & Carhue (IRE); T-Fozzy Stack; J-Chris Hayes. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-2-0, $70,389. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Masseto (GB), 131, c, 2, Territories (Ire)–Never Change (Ire), by New Approach (Ire). (62,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; 65,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-J Carthy; B-Ciaran Paterson (GB); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €10,000.
3–Strapped (Ire), 131, c, 2, Dawn Approach (Ire)–Strapless (Ire), by Whipper. O-Mrs J S Bolger; B/T-Jim Bolger (IRE). €5,000.
Margins: 2, 3/4, 2 3/4. Odds: 2.50, 1.88, 12.00.
Also Ran: Celtic Times (Ire), Twilight Jet (Ire), The Entertainer (Ire), It'll Do My Day (Ire). Scratched: Cadamosto (Ire), Sangria (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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