South African Group Two Winner for Star Witness

Fresh from siring a Group race double at Caulfield with Global Glamour and Star Turn, Star Witness also chimed in with a new stakes-winner in South Africa at Turffontein where Mella Maria captured the Group II Joburg Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge.

Prepared by Mike Azzie, four year-old Mella Maria had been Group placed twice previously earlier in her career and scored a head win in the 1450 metre feature taking her overall record to three wins from 16 starts.

Mella Maria was a Magic Millions National Yearling purchase for her trainer from the Widden Stud draft and is the first foal of Group II placed Keep the Faith mare Sayahailmary.

Sayahailmary has a yearling colt by Sebring and will foal to him again this spring.

Mella Maria is the sixth stakes-winner for Star Witness, who has hit a real purple patch since the start of spring and is the leading third crop sire by quite a margin with progeny earnings of $1.3 million since August 1.