View the Stars staked his claims for the Group One WA Derby with a thrilling all the way success in the listed JC Roberts Stakes (1800m) at Ascot yesterday.

A colt by champion international sire Galileo, View the Stars was rated perfectly in the lead by Brad Parnham and in a thrilling finish he held out the late challenges from Veracious and The Tenby Friar.

The margins were a short neck by a short neck in a competitive finish to the staying feature.

View the Stars, a $100,000 graduate of the Robyn Wise (As Agent) draft at 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, is prepared at Ascot bytop horseman Paul Jordan.

He was purchased as a yearling by leading Melbourne based agent Damon Gabbedy (Belmont Bloodstock Agency).

“I told Brad to go forward and be positive on him as he is a one paced horse and he doesn’t possess a great closing sprint.”

“He judged the pace perfectly and the horse did the rest,” Jordan added.

Provided the colt pulls up well it will be full steam ahead to Western Australia’s blue riband.

“We have always had the Derby planned for this colt and hopefully we’ll be standing here in a month’s time,” Jordan said.

By Sadler’s Wells’ Derby winning son Galileo, View the Stars is the 80th individual stakes winner for his sire.

He is the second stakes performer for his dam, the unraced, but well related Conquistador Cielo mare Metal of Honor.

A half sister to group winner True Hero, Metal of Honor is the dam of three other winners including the stakes performed sire Olympus. Her other two runners are also city winners – Bold Distinction and She’s Warrego.

Metal of Honor hails from the family of Group One winning sires including Taiki Fortune, Tentam, Known Fact and Gone West and Apache Cat’s sire Lion Cavern.

The win of View the Stars capped a memorable day for leading WA breeder and businessman Ron Sayers and his team from Yarradale Stud.

Their filly Flying Affair had earlier beat Magic Millions Perth 2YO Classic winner Western Fever in winning the Gimcrack Stakes.

Winner: View the Stars (Galileo-Metal of Honor)
Race: WATC JC Roberts Stakes LR (1800m)
Sold for: $100,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Robyn Wise (As Agent)
Buyer: Belmont Bloodstock Agency
Earnings: $108,500
Owner(s): Lima Syndicate (Mgr: HR Crossman), RG Sayers, P Van Loenhout, PH Jordan, CW Chalwell, Tim Gregory No 2 Syndicate (Mgr: TJG Gregory), D Burgess & GN Prater
Trainer: Paul Jordan (Ascot)