I Am A Star in prime condition ahead of the UBET Classic
SHANE Nichols is confident his gun filly I Am A Star is ready to add another group one crown to her already impressive resume in Saturday’s UBET Classic at Morphettville.
The New Zealand-bred three-year-old announced itself a genuine filly of the future after taking out the Group One Myer Classic in 2016.
To follow that up just over six months later in the UBET Classic – or Robert Sangster Stakes – would rubber stamp I Am A Star’s name and put it in the upper echelons of Australian racing.
Shane Nichols gave the filly a 35 day layup after an eighth placed failure in the Doncaster Mile, and the trainer said the I Am Invincible progeny is in perfect order heading into Saturday’s race.
“I couldn’t be happier with how she is,” Nichols told HorseBetting.com.au.
“Physically she looks super, she’s going to present nicely in the yard.
“Her work’s been good and she’s freshened up pretty well… we’ve got a good gate, we just want a firm track which we should be presented with, so everything looks in order.”
A firm track should see I Am Star’s odds at Luxbet.com.au firm even further from the $8.50 quote currently on offer.
Nicholas believes the heavy track at Randwick played havoc for his runner in the Doncaster Mile, which led him to forgive the poor finish on day one of The Championships.
“She just doesn’t like the wet track,” the trainer said.
“It’s the only chink in her armour is the wet tracks.”
While notching up a second group one title to his filly’s name is high on the priority list for Nichols, the trainer has one eye on potentially becoming the first horse to ever successfully defend the Myer Classic.
Nichols will take a wait and see approach following Saturday’s race.
“The Goodwood is worth $1 million and it’s two weeks after the Sangster, but I’m just not sure that’s the right race for her,” he said.
“We might prefer to go straight to the paddock after Saturday and target some of those spring races.
“She might head towards another Myer Classic, or who knows?”
Saturday will be the third time I Am A Star has raced against the mares in its short career, but both times the filly has produced the goods.
Considering the three-year-old’s record against the older horses, Nichols also is not ruling out a showdown against superstar mare Winx.
Nichols believes I Am A Star’s dominant display in March’s Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley could be the ideal precursor to a Cox Plate preparation.
“We might even put her on the Cox Plate pathway after she won the Sunline.
“She’s raced against the older mares twice and beat them both times.”