Return to Form for I am a Star

Tara Madgwick - Saturday September 15
Winner of the Group I VRC Myer Classic as a three year-old, top class I Am Invincible mare I am a Star showed she was back to her best with a tenacious nose win in the Group II VRC Let's Elope Stakes over 1400m  at Flemington on Saturday.



The Shane Nichols trained mare was at her best at her third run back from a spell and hopefully there are more wins in store for her this spring.

Nichols explained I Am A Star has shelly feet and developed a splint-bone injury that forced her to miss the autumn after a successful spring last year when she won the Group II MVRC Stocks Stakes.

Her owner Mathew Sandbloom gave the go ahead for a spring campaign although the mare could have been sent off to stud if her form didn't warrant racing on.

"We were run-to-run in the first part of the prep because we had time," Nichols said.

"If she had a run or two and she failed, we could still send her to stud."

Nichols is planning returning to Moonee Valley for the Stocks Stakes and from there will likely head back to the Group I VRC Myer Classic, which she won two years ago.

"The only thing we need to think about is where we go after the Stocks Stakes into the Myer," Nichols said.

"Do we run in the Toorak or do we wait and go straight into the Myer.

"Ideally I would like to try her at a mile and a quarter (2000m) at the end of the Flemington carnival, but let's just go one step at a time."

I Am a Star was a $40,000 Inglis Classic purchase for James Harron Bloodstock from the Broadwater Farm Thoroughbreds draft and has won eight of 24 starts and over $1.3 million in prizemoney for owner Matthew Sandblom of Kingstar Farm and Newgate Farm.

I Am InvincibleI 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.

I Am a Star was one of several stakes horses on Saturday for Yarraman Park's flagship sire I Am Invincible, who also had Invincible Star finish second in the Group II ATC The Shorts and Fiesta run second in the Group II ATC Tea Rose Stakes.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Darley Flight Stakes
The prestigious Darley Princess Series reaches its crescendo this week with the 77th running of the $750,000 G1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) over Royal Randwick's famous mile.
Captivant Colt Shines at Warwick Farm Trials
Captivant’s burgeoning reputation for producing precocious 2YOs took another leap forward at today’s Warwick Farm trials, with Courthezon powering to victory in Heat 10.
I Am Invincible's Media Sensation back with a bang at Te Rapa
Last season’s Gr1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner, Media Sensation made a successful start to her four-year-old campaign when she eased clear of race favourite Ferrando to take out the Listed Legacy Lodge Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa.
New Stakes-Winner for Zoustar
The $150,000 Listed Hannan’s Handicap (1400m) provided reigning champion sire Zoustar with a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding Multinational led for home and could not be caught.
$1,050,000 Colt for I Am Invincible
Tipped as one of the stars on day one at Magic Millions, the I Am Invincible colt from Group II winning Zabeel mare Adrift duly set the sale ring alight when selling for $1,050,00 with Guy Mulcaster signing the docket in conjunction with Waller Racing.
Kiwi Sires a Recipe for NZB Ready to Run Sale Success
Much of the NZB Ready to Run Sale’s extraordinary success has been underpinned by the stallions that have stood in New Zealand in recent decades.
$1million I Am Invincible Colt from G1 Winner Amanpour
Rosemont Stud bought Group I winning Northern Meteor mare Amanpour for $1.5million at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and got a big return on investment when selling her I Am Invincible colt for $1million during the first session of Magic Millions on Wednesday.
2YO Stakes Racing – Sale Mail
Three stakes races for new season juveniles add plenty of interest to a stellar day of racing this Saturday in Sydney and Melbourne, so let’s take a look at the Sale Mail for these races.
Four Winners for Dennis
Local trainer Robert Dennis won half of the eight-race card at Ascot Park on Friday, culminating with a special win by Sir Sterling in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m).
First to 100
It’s probably no surprise to anyone that this stallion is the first to sire 100 Australian winners this season.