I Am A Star held-off her rivals to record a brave victory in the 2016 Myer Classic at Flemington this afternoon.
I Am A Star (pictured winning in Adelaide) became the first filly in history to win the Myer Classic. Photo by: Jenny Barnes
Dean Yendall elected to stride forward on I Am A Star in the early stages of the race and she settled in second position, while fellow three-year-old filly Whispering Brook took up the running.
I Am A Star took up the running at the top of the straight and she looked like a sitting duck with 300 metres left to run, but she just kept on finding and she held-off French Emotion and Denmagic to become the first filly to win the Myer Classic.
Yendall picked up the ride on I Am A Star due to the fact that Steven King could not ride the 49 kilograms and the lightweight hoop was clearly delighted to have won his second Group 1 of what has been a stellar 2016 Spring Racing Carnival.
“She had the right run and I was able to get her into a nice comfortably rhythm,” Yendall said.
“There was a bit of pressure from Zac at the 600 on Euro Angel, but she was able to be in the right spot when they straightened and she gave me a nice kick at the 400.
“I thought that with no weight on her back that I would be good enough to hang on, which she was.
“Huge thanks to Shane Nichols for the magnificent opportunity and to Steve King for the job he has done with her.
“Shane contacted me well before this race and told me to keep my mind open because she would have no weight on her back.
“I love the way she settled and I might sound a bit stupid here, but she could make a nice Caulfield Cup mare next season.”
Shane Nichols has done an outstanding job keeping I Am A Star fresh throughout her 2016 Spring Racing Carnival and he was rewarded with a maiden Group 1 victory in the Myer Classic.
Nichols was always confident that I Am A Star could bounce back from her tough run in the Moonee Valley Fillies Classic last start and he believes that the three-year-old could be even better in the autumn.
“I am trying to take it all in,” Nichols said.
“I thought that she had come off the bridle at the top of the straight, but he just had to give her a bit of a stir up to get back in the flow.
“With 49 kilos they were always going to struggle late to catch her and I am extremely pleased to win my first Group 1 here on Derby Day.
“She is a mature filly, nothing bothers her and she just goes about her work.
“She is like a nine-year-old gelding, but he has a bit of toe.”
French Emotion found the line strongly to finish second and there were a host of hard-luck stories in what was a competitive race.
