Despite being caught wide for the majority of the trip, the three-year-old Toronado (IRE) filly Still A Star proved a class above in Saturday’s Listed Kevin Sharkie Launceston Guineas (2100).
The only filly in the 12-horse field, Still A Star completed the Tasmanian Guineas (1600m) – Launceston Guineas with the greatest of ease.
Brendon McCoull settled the Bill Ryan-trained filly midfield after trying to slot in from a wide barrier draw. She tracked into the race withy little urging and by the time they turned for home she only had the Toronado (IRE) gelding Heaven's Bonus to run down. That she did with little effort and had opened up a gap of five lengths on the line with the Stratum gelding Vamos Raffa a neck back in third.
"Absolutely superb," Bill Ryan told The Examiner.
"I was confident she'd run a strong 2100m - but not as good as that.
"I was worried when she was caught three wide and over-racing a bit but she just flew when Brendon (McCoull) hit the go button."
Ryan said the $100,000 Strutt Stakes at Elwick on February 9 and $150,000 Tasmanian Oaks at Mowbray on February 23 were the logical next targets for Still A Star.
"I suppose I could also enter her for the Derby and see what comes (from interstate) but you'd think the Strutt and Oaks would be easy pickings for her going on tonight's run."
A $13,000 purchase by Monica Ryan out of the Alva Stud draft at the 2018 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale, Still A Star advances her record to 5 wins and 5 seconds from 10 starts with earnings of $261,190.
Both first and second provided timely updates to siblings heading to the sales.
Alva Stud will consign a Manhattan Rain half-sister to Still A Star at the upcoming Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale.
Basinghall Farm consigns a Star Witness half-sister to Heaven’s Bonus to the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Still A Star’s dam, the Brisbane winning Casino Prince mare Lita, is a daughter of the top-class Stravinsky mare Royal Asscher the winner of the Group III MVRC Red Anchor Stakes, Listed VRC Ottawa Stakes and Listed MRC William Crockett Stakes and was third in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic.
Purchased by Alva Stud for $20,000 at the 2015 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale, Lita missed to Alpine Eagle in 2018 and was covered by Spendthrift Farm’s Bolt D'Oro (USA) last spring.
Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (IRE) has a colt and a filly entered for the Inglis Classic while the son of High Chaparral (IRE) has 11 catalogued for the Inglis Premier.
