I Am A Star proves too strong in Group 2 Kewney Stakes
THE confidence shown by trainer Shane Nichols was well-placed on Saturday when his filly I Am A Star scored a gutsy win in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes at Flemington.
The three-year-old Group 1 Myer Classic winner came into the race having finished an unlucky seventh in the Oakleigh Plate, but Nichols and punters alike knew a better showing was on the cards.
$2 was available with bookmakers for the daughter of I Am Invincible which battled tooth and rail with Ellicazoom over the final 200m before getting the upper hand in the shadows of the post with Dean Yendall in the saddle.
“She’s pretty exciting to ride, I really got excited to ride her when I got the call up after my good friend Craig Williams getting suspended last week,” a jubilant Yendall said.
Yendall positioned the race favourite in the ideal spot throughout the run before calling upon the filly at the top of the straight, but it clearly dipped momentarily which halted its progress.
“She positioned up, doing no work and we sat off the Perth horse (Ellicazoom),” Yendall said. “We came off its back, probably 500m to go I felt pretty confident, but when I got to the furlong she put in a funny little stride there and got a bit unbalanced.
“I had to pick her up again and ask her to go. She was pretty tough.”
Nichols is sticking with his plan to keep I Am A Star at the mile and will target the Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley next with the rising star.
“The Sunline’s the next, so Friday week at The Valley,” Nichols said. “Then we’ll look at the weather and see if we go to Sydney.
“She’s still in the Doncaster, still in the Coolmore Legacy…but if it was wet up there, we’ll set ourselves for Adelaide.”
Nichols paid credit to its winning desire, which was needed to get past Ellicazoom in the shadows of the post.
“She had to be very tough the last bit to knuckle down and find the line,” he said. “Those horses that win, they tend to have a way of keep winning.
“To be three-from-three at Flemington, it’s a big buzz and a big wrap on a very good filly.”
Ellicazoom paid an each way place price of $2.20 with Kenedna staying on well for third. The big run came from Oregon’s Day which missed the start badly, but ran home with style.