Trainer Shane Nichols has revealed that I Am A Star will take her position in Friday night’s Group 2 Sunline Stakes field at Moonee Valley Racecourse.
I Am A Star will take her place in Friday night’s Sunline Stakes field at Moonee Valley. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
I Am A Star has been the stable star for Nichols since she made her competitive debut in late autumn last year and the filly is set to carry winning form into the Sunline Stakes after leading from start to finish in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago.
Nichols included the I Am Invincible filly in nominations for both the Sunline Stakes and the Group 1 William Reid Stakes on Friday’s Moonee Valley card, but told Racing Victoria that she will be taking the softer option, with a view towards a broad range of targets moving forward.
“I felt that if we drew badly with a competitive field of good horses in the William Reid it would remove most of our options to have another run until the Robert Sangster,” Nichols said.
“If we draw bad in the Sunline it still leaves up with options in that race and also going forward whereas if we drew badly in the William Reid it might be a similar story to the Oakleigh Plate and it would limit her options going forward.”
I Am A Star has already had three starts in 2017, having resumed for second in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) before a lacklustre performance for seventh in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) on February 25th.
Nichols said that I Am A Star could make a trip to Sydney for a mile race during the forthcoming Championships, however an appearance in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) during the Adelaide Autumn Carnival is also an option.
“If we run in the Sunline and she’s good enough to win and the weather clears up in the Sydney then we’ve still got the option to go to the Doncaster or the Coolmore Legacy Stakes (Queen Of The Turf Stakes),” Nichols said.
“A soft track would be OK but we don’t want a heavy track for her.
“If she is dominant in the Sunline and the weather is dry in Sydney then we’ll go to the dry track first in the Doncaster rather than risk waiting another week and potentially getting another wet track.
“Looking at the long-range forecast, this week and next week in Sydney is OK but then it gets wet again so if she is impressive this week we’ll look at the Doncaster.”
I Am A Star experienced something of a meteoric rise to prominence during the recent Spring Carnival and capped her season with a maiden win at the highest level in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m); subsequently becoming the first three-year-old to win the race.
The Sunline Stakes field and barrier draw is due to be completed and released by midday, Wednesday.
