Saturday Double - The Stars Aligned

Making every post a winner, When Stars Align (4 g Zoustar – Shenandoah, by Darci Brahma) resumed with victory in the $40,000 Stonewood Homes Rating 65 1200 metres on Saturday at Tauranga.

A debut winning two-year-old that continues to act well fresh and finished third in the Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) last season, When Stars Align had stretched out well for close fourth when trialling on 9 October at Waipa, and looked well primed to perform well.

Ridden by French jockey Corentin Berge, When Stars Align signalled his intent from the outset by hunting along in front and after travelling fluently at genuine pace, he slipped away to a winning advantage in the straight.

Scoring by one and a half lengths, on Soft6 footing, When Stars Align ran 1200 metres in 1:11.4, last 600m in 35.0 (approx.), and paid $8.90 & $2.20 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It’s great to see him back in the winner’s circle,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“It’s not that he’s lacked ability, but it took a bit of time after he was gelded to return to form and the owners have been really patient with him. 

“Winning his first run back as a four-year-old is a good sign and hopefully he will gain confidence from the win and he can go on to a higher level.”

Owned by the Te Akau Stars Aligned Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), When Stars Align was purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the 2023 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Wentwood Grange. 

“He was typical of the sire (Zoustar) in every respect and great to see Darci Brahma doing the job as a broodmare sire, too, having bought him and with Mark (Walker) training him to win five Group Ones,” Ellis said.

“He was bred and prepared by the Hawkins' family at Wentwood Grange. They do an outstanding job, and they retained a share in the horse a well.

“He’s a horse that some new clients came into when we bought him, along with longstanding clients John Elstob and Denise Bassett and Glenn and Catherine Holmes, Ronald Lau and Katrina and Barry Pardon - and he’s a lightly raced type that should continue to improve.”

When Stars Align is by Australian Champion Sire Zoustar, who won six of his nine starts, including two Group Ones and a Group Two, and became one of the most sought after stallions in Australia, following the premature demise of his sire Northern Meteor (Encosta De Lago) who had been Champion First Season Sire.

His dam Shenandoah, a dual winner of two races and Group Two placed in Australia, is by Champion Sire Darci Brahma (Danehill), purchased as a yearling by David Ellis at Karaka, and winner of five Group One races before becoming a terrific stallion. 

When Stars Align has a Danehill cross through the dam-line of Zoustar and sire line of Shenandoah.

When Stars Align was strapped by Nicole Weatherley. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz