I Am A Star freshened up for Robert Sangster Stakes

Victorian filly I Am A Star has freshened up nicely as she prepares to take on the older mares in the Group 1 $1m Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.

Victorian filly I Am A Star, above, will take on the older mares in the Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Victorian filly I Am A Star, above, will take on the older mares in the Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Mornington trainer Shane Nichols said that I Am A Star has recovered from  her tough run on a heavy track in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 1 when she raced on the pace before finishing a fading eighth to It’s Somewhat.

While Nichols has I Am A Star in top order for the $1m feature for the fillies and mares, he admits that the opposition is full of talent.

“She’s going to present up in as good an order as she can be but you’re never confident running against top-line mares in a Group 1,’’ Nicholas told The Advertiser.

“But she’s in very good shape.

“She’ll just jump, trail the speed and should be right in the mix.’’

“There are five or six who it wouldn’t surprise if they won.

“That’s what happens when $1m is on offer.’’

I Am A Star has drawn beautifully at barrier two in the capacity twenty horse Robert Sangster Stakes field and will be ridden again by Dean Yendall who will be hoping to collect another Group 1 win on the filly after the pair combined to win the Group 1 $500,000 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival.

Yendall and I Am A Star also teamed up for two wins during the 2017 Melbourne Autumn Carnival in the Group 2 $200,000 Kewney Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 11 and in the Group 2 $200,000 Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on March 24.

I Am A Star is one of four runners under the $10 mark for the Robert Sangster Stakes and is listed at $8.50 with Ladbrokes.com.au behind English at $4.80, Sheidel at $5 and Super Cash who has firmed in from $10 to be on the third line of betting at $7.50.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained English is also coming out the 2017 Sydney Autumn Carnival and after getting beaten a head by Chautauqua in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 1 finished sixth to Tivaci in the Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick a fortnight later.

English had drawn midfield at barrier eleven with Ben Melham to ride while Sheidel is drawn next to her in gate ten with the ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira in the saddle.

Moreira rode Sheidel to an all the way win in the Group 1 $500,000 The Resimax Group Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 25 but the Lindsay Park trained mare has been unplaced at both her next two starts.

Damien Oliver was aboard Sheidel when she ran fourth to stablemate Redkirk Warrior in the Group 1 $1.25m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 11 and then Blake Shinn set the pace on the Lindsay Park trained mare before getting over run in the straight to finish sixth to Silent Sedition in the Group 1 $500,000 Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 24.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.