New Stakes-Winner for Star Witness

Danny O’Brien trained Star Witness to achieve Group I sprint wins at two and three, but might be thinking ‘Derby’ with his talented staying son Lycurgus, a powerful winner of the Listed MRC Galillee Series Final over 2400 metres at Caulfield on Saturday.

Lycurgus has been gradually stepping up in distance this preparation and appeared to relish the classic journey when charging home from back in the field to post a length win in the staying test over Sebring filly Miss Strathallan.

Danny O’Brien indicated the VRC St Leger Stakes at Flemington on April 25 was next for Lycurgus followed by a possible trip to Adelaide for next month’s Group I SAJC South Australian Derby (2500m).

A $70,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Kitchwin Hills draft for his trainer, Lycurgus is the first foal of metro winning Testa Rossa mare Gelblitz, who comes from the family of Group I w inner Hauraki.

Geblitz has a weanling colt by Stratum and was covered again by Star Witness again last spring.

Lycurgus is the ninth stakes-winner for Star Witness, whose outstanding daughter Global Glamour was a brave second in the Group II ATC Arrowfield Sprint at Randwick.