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Explosive Witness produces shock win in Bauhinia Sprint Trophy at Sha Tin.
Widden Stud resident Star Witness (Starcraft) was represented by his 17th stakes winner on Friday when Explosive Witness (6 g ex Rocket Baby by Danzero) produced a shock win in the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (Gr 3, 1000m) at Sha Tin, leading home a quinella for Australian breds in the Group 3.
Trained by Caspar Frownes, the six-year-old gelding was having his first start in stakes company and he had no issues with the step up in class, beating Stronger (Not A Single Doubt) by a neck, while Big Party (Exceed And Excel) was another nose away in third. Computer Patch (Exceed And Excel), who was sent off the red-hot favourite, finished last of the five runners.
"It's magic when you get a winning result like that, you go in there hoping he'll pick up some prize money for second, third or fourth but to win – it's magic – well deserved for the owners," Fownes said.
"He's (Explosive Witness) a horse who wasn't that far out of the ratings – that's why I decided to put him in and you take your chances in these sort of races when they have no weight on their back.
"He's racing really well – his 1000 metre form at Happy Valley has been superb running off big sectionals and he deserved the chance under handicap conditions to take them on – it was a tightly bunched finish but it's wonderful for the result to go my way.
"I'm very happy for the owners, they have been very patient, this horse has had so many setbacks it hasn't been much fun."
Bred by Golden Grove Stud Farm, the six-year-old gelding is one of three winners out of placed Danzero (Danehill) mare Rocket Baby with this also being the family of dual Group 3 scorer Rockets Galore (Whiskey Road).
In 2019, Rocket Baby produced a colt by Rosemont Stud-based sire Shamus Award (Snitzel), before producing a filly by Swettenham Stud-based shuttler Toronado (High Chaparral) the following season.
Star Witness' progeny is headed by dual Group 1 winner Global Glamour, whose first yearling - a colt by Zoustar (Northern Meteor) - will be offered by Coolmore Stud as Lot 346 at this month's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, while Star Witness himself has ten lots set to go under the hammer at the Queensland Sale.
