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This Mare Is Still A Star

3 minute read

Group One winner I Am A Star recorded her seventh stakes win and eighth overall when she returned to form in the G2 Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington on September 15.

Trained by Shane Nichol, the 5YO I Am A Star (I Am Invincible x Star Band by Dixieland Band) has now won a Group race every season since she was a 2YO.from two to five.

I Am A Star wins at Flemington
I Am A Star wins at Flemington Picture: Racing and Sports

I Am A Star cost just $12,000 as a weanling at the NZB 2014 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale at Karaka in 2014.

She has now had 24 starts for eight wins, five placings and $1.3 million prize-money for owner Matthew Sandblom.

Her biggest win to date came in the G1 Myer Classic at Flemington in 2016. She has also won four G2 races and a G3.

Princess Posh, another 5YO mare who was a value buy for $25,000 at the 2015 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, broke through for her first stakes win in the G3 Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle on September 14.

The consistent Princess Posh is by Canford Cliffs from The Baroness by Viscount and is a half-sister to the multiple race winners Oh Romeo (Foreplay) and Famechon Baroness (Haradasun).

Canford Cliffs, who shuttled to Australia for five years, was sold to Highlands Stud in South Africa last year.

Her dam The Baroness is a half-sister to the G3 Millie Fox Stakes winner A Country Girl (Singspiel) and has produced winners from all three of her foals to date.

Princess Posh at Newcastle
Princess Posh at Newcastle Picture: Steve Hart

Princess Posh’s second dam Verdict Declared (Mr Henrysee) also won the Millie Fox Stakes among her 10 career victories. She is a sister to the G1 winner Mr Innocent.

The Baroness currently has a filly foal by Foxwedge.

Champion sire Fastnet Rock extended his tally of stakes winners to 140 when the classy young sprinter Siege Of Quebec won the G3 Bill Ritchie at Randwick.

The win has put Siege Of Quebec (Fastnet Rock x Rose Of Cimmaron by Bite the Bullet) in contention for the G1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick on September 29.

Impressive filly Smart Melody (Smart Missile x Sweetest Melody by Encosta De Lago) became the sixth individual stakes winner for her sire when she won the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes at Flemington.

Smart Melody was making her Melbourne debut and extended her unbeaten record to four wins, placing her at the top of betting for the G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield next month.

Smart Melody
Smart Melody Picture: Racing and Sports

Golden Slipper winner Sebring is the sire of 46 individual stakes winners after his 5YO gelding Violate won the Listed Sofitel at Flemington.

Violate is a member of a notable family. Her dam Shantha’s Girl is a daughter of champion sire Redoute’s Choice.


Racing and Sports

Flemington

Saturday, 15th September 2018

6
15:30
(local)

Let's Elope Stakes (G2)

Age: 4yo and up Sex: M Type: OPEN
AUD $202,000
1400m TURF GOOD
6
15:30
(local)
AUD $202,000
1400m GOOD

Let's Elope Stakes (G2)

Age: 4yo and up Sex: M Type: OPEN

Group 1-winning mare I Am A Star, having her third run this preparation, staged a game effort in recording her seventh stakes success in 24 starts. She settled nicely outside the leader (Bella Martini) at a reasonable tempo and put pressure on that runner nearing the 300m. Then after a great battle she beat her rival by the narrowest of margins. Bella Martini went to the front, travelled well (first 800m in 48.01) without a lot of pressure until challenged in the straight. She then fought gamely for second, beaten a nose, in a good effort at her second run back. Sheezdashing raced back in third last place in the 13-horse field, got a split at the 300m and then ran on really well, in the sprint home for a close-up third in a promising run at her first run back. Miss Gunpowder was handy all the way and held on well for (1.2 lengths) fourth with La Bella Diosa (2.2 lengths) fifth after travelling in that spot most of the race.



FP Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 1. I AM A STAR (NZ) 5yo M
I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) - STAR BAND (USA)
BEN MELHAM
SHANE NICHOLS
$10
58kg
M B Sandblom

Sales Information

2nd 2. BELLA MARTINI (AUS) 4yo M
STRATUM (AUS) - SILVERBEAT (AUS)
DWAYNE DUNN
M, W & J HAWKES
$8.5
58kg
Dorrington Farm (Mgr: R J Crabtree)

Sales Information

3rd 12. SHEEZDASHING (AUS) 4yo M
MYBOYCHARLIE (IRE) - DASHING OBERON (AUS)
DAMIEN THORNTON
MATHEW ELLERTON & SIMON ZAHRA
$21
55kg
D Romanelli, B E Arnhold, Mrs M J Wilson, D M Richards, R W Fenwick, A Darivas, C Drabsch, R J Donazzan, L R Heinze, Mrs J G Grace & L Webb

Sales Information

4th 5. MISS GUNPOWDER (AUS) 6yo M
PENDRAGON (NZ) - FOREVER RAFTER (USA)
CRAIG WILLIAMS
D & B HAYES & T DABERNIG
$7
55kg

Sales Information

5th 9. LA BELLA DIOSA (NZ) 5yo M
SO YOU THINK (NZ) - STAR AFFAIR (NZ)
REGAN BAYLISS
D & B HAYES & T DABERNIG
$8
55kg
6th 13. PETITION (AUS) 5yo M
FOXWEDGE (AUS) - THE PARTY STAND (NZ)
JYE MCNEIL
ANTHONY FREEDMAN
$8
55kg

Sales Information

7th 4. QUILATE (AUS) 6yo M
BRAMSHAW (AUS) - MISS PELIGROSA (AUS)
ETHAN BROWN
MICHAEL KENT
$51
57kg

Sales Information

8th 11. MRS GARDENIA (NZ) 5yo M
RIP VAN WINKLE (IRE) - DOUBLE BABU (NZ)
DEAN YENDALL
DARREN WEIR
$9
55kg

Sales Information

9th 7. SAMOVARE (AUS) 5yo M
SAVABEEL (AUS) - SAMBAR (AUS)
JORDAN CHILDS
D & B HAYES & T DABERNIG
$17
55kg

Sales Information

10th 8. MERRIEST (AUS) 5yo M
DENMAN (AUS) - MERRIER (AUS)
DAMIEN OLIVER
DANNY O'BRIEN
$4.75
55kg

Sales Information

11th 6. KENEDNA (AUS) 5yo M
NOT A SINGLE DOUBT (AUS) - MISS DODWELL (AUS)
BRENTON AVDULLA
DARREN WEIR
$51
55kg

Sales Information

12th 14. BELLARIA (NZ) 5yo M
MAGNUS (AUS) - FLOWERDRUM (USA)
DAMIAN LANE
DARREN WEIR
$21
55kg

Sales Information

13th 10. JENNIFER LYNN (AUS) 5yo M
HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) - ESPURANTE (AUS)
JAMIE MOTT
JOHN MCARDLE
$67
55.5kg

Sales Information

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