Written by Paul Vettise
Mornington trainer Shane Nichols is expecting another bold showing from his aptly-named Group 1 winner I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible) at Caulfield on Saturday. The five-year-old has progressed well since her first-up outing and he’s more than happy with her condition going into the G3 Ladbrokes Cockram S.
The mare made a sound return off a lengthy break to finish fourth in the G3 Aurie’s Star at Flemington at her last appearance. “She didn’t race in the autumn and she’s improved off that last performance,” Nicholls said.
“This race will top her off nicely. Drawing 17 isn’t great, but the fence may not be the place to be later in the day. The tempo should be good and I’m sure she’ll be competitive.
“She’ll need a bit of luck early from that awkward draw, but at least she won’t get caught up in traffic.” – Shane Nichols.
“She’ll need a bit of luck early from that awkward draw, but at least she won’t get caught up in traffic. We’ll be looking at the Let’s Elope and the Rupert Clarke with her and then the Stock S., is the target race. It’s for fillies and mares and that’s ideal for her.”
I Am A Star, who won the G1 Myer Classic as a 3-year-old, proved that when she claimed last season’s edition of the Group 2 event. She was ridden on that occasion by Damien Oliver, who will be reunited with the mare on Saturday.
I Am A Star wins the Group 3 Quezette Stakes
Bred in New Zealand, I Am A Star was initially purchased as a weanling at Karaka for $12,000 out of Rich Hill Stud’s draft to Wentwood Grange. “She was foaled here and Laurence Eales, who had bought a number of mares to go to Shocking, later asked us to sell some stock at the May Sale and she was one of them,” Rich Hill’s John Thompson said. “She was quite small as a weanling, but a really nice filly.”
“She was quite small as a weanling, but a really nice filly.” – John Thompson.
She was subsequently bought by agent James Harron for $40,000 at the William Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and placed with Nichols. She was then purchased by current owner Matthew Sandblom.
After being purchased as a weanling at Karaka for $12,000, Star Band went on to sell for $40,000 at the 2015 Inglis Classic Sale
I Am A Star is out of Star Band (USA) (Dixieland Band {USA}), who has left three winners, and is from the family of the G2 Wakeful S., winner Tiamo Grace (Monaco Consul {NZ}). “I also bought a half-sister by Shocking out of New Zealand for $10,000 and she’s out spelling, but she may go straight to stud,” Nichols said.
