Written by Paul Vettise
She may have been named with a degree of optimism, but Thrillster (Starspangledbanner) is doing her level best to keep her side of the bargain.
The emerging filly put away a competitive line-up of 3-year-old fillies in Saturday’s Ladbrokes Atlantic Jewel S., at Moonee Valley.
In doing so, she has boosted her classic claims as her most likely aim is the G1 Thousand Guineas. “I’ve got confidence in this horse and she had really thrived since her first-up run,” co-trainer Troy Corstens said.
“We’ve had a bit of a bad run over the last six months, it’s no secret a bug went through the stable. We’re over it now and it’s good to get a win like this.”
Thrillster won two of her three starts last season before she was given a break and resumed in the G3 Quezette S., recently at Caulfield. She gave a sound account of herself by finishing third from the outside gate.
On Saturday, she jumped well from an inside barrier and rider Noel Callow was able to settle the filly in behind an even pace. They shouldered into the clear before the turn and came with a well-timed run to take major honours from Humma Humma (Denman), Krone (Eurozone) and the late finishing Assertive Play (Akeed Mofeed {GB}).
“We’ve had a bit of a bad run over the last six months, it’s no secret a bug went through the stable. We’re over it now and it’s good to get a win like this.” – Troy Corstens.
Thrillster lived up to her name with a thrilling finish in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes
“She’s still in the Golden Rose, but we’ll get home and let things settle down first,” Corstens said. “We had so much to do with Starspangledbanner and I’ve always had enormous faith in him as a stallion.”
His father Leon prepared Starspangledbanner (Choisir) to win the G1 Oakleigh Plate and the G1 Caulfield Guineas before he was sent to Aidan O’Brien in Ireland. The chestnut subsequently added the G1 Golden Jubilee S., and the G1 July Cup to his record.
Thrillster is by Coolmore stallion, Starspangledbanner
Pedigree Notes
Thrillster is the only foal out of Heart Of Thrills (Show A Heart) to have raced and the dam is a grand-daughter of Soleil Rouge (NZ) (Red Tempo {NZ}), who was a Group 2 and 3 winner. The pedigree also features the G1 Hong Kong Sprint winner All Thrills Too (St Covet) and the G3 Ming Dynasty H., winner and G1 Spring Champion S., runner-up Swear (Redoute’s Choice).
Another noteworthy family member is Crossyourheart (NZ) Show A Heart). She was the top 2-year-old filly of her year in New Zealand with four wins that included the New Zealand Bloodstock Classique and the Listed Challenge S.
Thrillster was a $60,000 Inglis Premier purchase
