Cups Goal for Fastnet Rock Stayer Star Tsar

Media Release - Saturday January 2

Progressive staying prospect Star Tsar staked his claim for a start in the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) in March with a dominant victory in Friday’s Dunstan Feeds Stayers Championship Final (2400m) at Ellerslie.

The track specialist appealed as a leading chance in the race off the back of a solid run for sixth in the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2300m) at his last start and franked that form with a comprehensive victory.

Star Tsar - image Trish Dunell.

Rider Troy Harris made full use of an inside barrier draw to place the Fastnet Rock gelding in a handy  position on the fence as the field strung out behind tearaway pacemaker Cassio.

Spotting Cassio a conservative ten lengths rounding the home bend, Harris had Star Tsar in the clear where he quickly ate up the deficit to strike the front at the 150m before easing to a length and a half victory over the fast-closing Vedo Rosso.

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Co-trainer Andrew Forsman, who prepares Star Tsar in partnership with Murray Baker, was impressed by the performance of the lightly raced five-year-old who has now won three of his four starts at Ellerslie.

“He does need to have things run to suit him, which he got this time, but I thought it was a very good win,” Forsman said.

“Having Cassio string them out certainly played into his hands and he has raced well at Ellerslie before.

“He hasn’t put in a bad run in his whole career and has been a victim of tempo several times including his last start in the Manawatu Cup.

“It was just nice see him have all favours this time and get the job done.”

Bred and raced by David Paykel from his outstanding mare Zarzuela, who won at stakes level three times while also finishing third in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), Star Tsar has now won four of his 11 starts with Forsman keen to see him tackle a two-mile feature in the near future.

“We’ve got him nominated for both the Wellington Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) and the Auckland Cup (Gr.1, 3200m) so we will give him a few easy days and then work out how we are going to proceed,” he said.

“We’re mindful he’s been up a long time, although he seems to be thriving, so we’ll have to make a call to see if we try for Trentham or keep him closer to home for the Avondale Cup (Gr.2, 2400m) and then the Auckland Cup after that.

“If it doesn’t work out for him in the big handicaps this time around then he has it all ahead of him for the future.”

One of three winners at Ellerslie for champion sire Fastnet Rock joining Avantage and Rocket Spade, Star Tsar currently sits at a $10 quote in the Fixed Odds market for the Gr.3 NZ Campus of Innovation and Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) behind joint $8 favourites Savy Yong Blonk and Waisake. – NZ Racing Desk

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Race Result - Dunstan Feeds C'ship Final 2400m

Ellerslie Track: Good(3) Time: 2:26.49
1
Star Tsar
- 5g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Zarzuela (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: T N Harris 58.5
2
1.5
Vedo Rosso
- 6g Ocean Park (NZ) x Winsome (NZ) (Housebuster (USA))
Tnr: Ms S Hale Rdr: S T Collett 54
3
2.3
Rising Renown
- 5g Redwood (GB) x Vickichristina (NZ) (Oratorio (IRE))
Tnr: N P Bishara Rdr: J J Fawcett 55
4
2.8
Cassio
- 6g Guillotine (NZ) x Classic Babe (NZ) (Classic Fame (USA))
Tnr: S Ralph Rdr: Callum Jones 52
5
3.1
Le Sablier
- 6m Tavistock (NZ) x Phillipa Glass (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: Ms K Fursdon Rdr: S R Weatherley 56
6
4.4
Super Gee
- 5g Super Easy (NZ) x Arctic Heights (NZ) (Johar (USA))
Tnr: C W Gibbs Rdr: A C Goindasamy 53.5
7
5.0
Plushenko
- 6g Rock 'n' Pop (AUS) x Russian (USA) (Tribunal (USA))
Tnr: G & T Shaw Rdr: T D Thornton 56.5
8
5.6
Hakuna Matata
- 4m Shamoline Warrior (AUS) x Kate (NZ) (St Reims (NZ))
Tnr: W P Hillis Rdr: S C Spratt 54
9
5.7
Mozzie
- 5g Dawn Approach (IRE) x Glitter Woman (AUS) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: Ms J Rayner Rdr: C J Grylls 55
10
5.8
Triomphe
- 5g Rip Van Winkle (IRE) x Shylo (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: S & E Clotworthy Rdr: M Hashizume 52
11
8.7
Coruba Jak
- 5g Jakkalberry (IRE) x Divine Rio (NZ) (Captain Rio (GB))
Tnr: A J Sims Rdr: A J Calder 54
12
9.8
Za Za Gabor
- 6m O'Reilly (NZ) x Zaza Top (GER) (Lomitas (GB))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: K Asano 56
13
9.9
Kya Khoob Lagti Ho
- 5m Pierro (AUS) x Mydanehillprincess (AUS) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: F T Ritchie Rdr: S M Mc Kay 55.5
14
10.0
Bonny Ezra
- 5g Road To Rock (AUS) x Ascolini (NZ) (Bertolini (USA))
Tnr: C D Cromarty Rdr: L J Allpress 59
15
19.7
Beaudz Well
- 4g Zed (NZ) x Celtic Rose (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: J R Wheeler Rdr: D S Johnson 59
16
20.0
You're Welcome
- 5g Camelot (GB) x Chorus Of Angels (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: M J Mc Nab 55.5
17
22.3
Razors Edge
- 8g Raise The Flag (GB) x It's My Time (AUS) (Marscay (AUS))
Tnr: A J Dravitzki Rdr: L H Satherley 54
18
24.4
James Barrie
- 4g Reliable Man (GB) x It's Eleanor (NZ) (Istidaad (USA))
Tnr: S Ritchie & C Murray Rdr: J K Riddell 57
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