Options in two states for I Am A Star
I Am A Star is a likely dual acceptor for stakes races in Sydney and Melbourne with trainer Shane Nichols leaning towards running her in the Furious Stakes at Randwick.
Mornington-based Nichols also has the talented filly entered for Saturday’s Atlantic Jewel Stakes at Moonee Valley, also over 1200m.
I Am A Star has won three of her four starts including the Group Three National Stakes in Adelaide during her juvenile season.
She returned to win her first start as a three-year-old in the Group Three Quezette Stakes at Caulfield.
“We’ll probably accept in both and then just have a look at the opposition, with a slight leaning to Sydney,” Nichols said.
The Atlantic Jewel is a Listed race run under set weights plus penalties conditions while the Group Two Furious is set weights.
“It’s probably as valuable to run a place in Sydney as what it is to win in Melbourne but obviously we’re not going to try to run a place, we’re going to try to win,” Nichols said.
“She has travelled well to Morphettville before and won, so she is a good traveller.”
Nichols said barrier draws and weather would also be considerations.
Steven King will ride I Am A Star wherever she runs.
“I think he’s pretty keen to not let anyone else get on her,” Nichols said.
The Atlantic Jewel Stakes has 28 nominations including unbeaten West Australian filly Whispering Brook.
The Chris Waller-trained Omei Sword, an impressive winner of the Silver Shadow Stakes earlier this month, headlines the 25 entries for the Furious.
Nichols plans to take I Am A Star to the Thousand Guineas Prelude after Saturday and if she performs well over 1400m she will go to the Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m) for which she is an $11 chance.