Winner
of the Group I VRC Myer Classic as a three year-old, top class I Am Invincible
mare I Am a Star has been in sizzling form this spring racking up her third
straight stakes victory at Caulfield on Wednesday when taking out the Group III
MRC Ladies Day Vase.
The Shane Nichols trained mare is flying at present and led all the way after
jumping from the outside gate to win the 1600 metre contest by half a length.
Her trainer revealed she would now head to the Group I VRC Myer Classic at
Flemington on Derby Day, but could also back-up against the boys in the Group I
VRC Emirates Stakes (2000m) seven days later.
"I'd like to (run her in the Emirates) but I don't know whether I'd be
given the tick of approval," Nichols said.
"If all of a sudden, Winx has her Cox Plate and wanders off to the
paddock, it would be silly not to.
"She's two-and-a-half weeks into the Myer now but she won the Myer off
seven days, so why not (have a go)."
I Am a Star was a $40,000 Inglis Classic purchase for James Harron Bloodstock
from the Broadwater Farm Thoroughbreds draft and has 10 of 26 starts and over
$1.5 million in prizemoney for owner Matthew Sandblom of Kingstar Farm and
Newgate Farm.
I Am a Star was actually bred in New Zealand by Eales Racing and was sold at
the NZB Weanling Sale for $12,000 out of the Rich Hill Stud draft before being
sent to Australia for re-sale.
A full sister to stakes-placed Band on the Run, I Am a Star is the third winner
for Star Band (USA), a half-sister by Dixieland Band to Group III winner Common
World from the family of Australian Group I winner Pear Tart.
Star Band is now at stud in New Zealand and was covered last spring by Iffraaj
(GB).