Bruno Cannatelli
Group One-winning mare I Am A Star has pleased her trainer Shane Nichols with her first trial ahead of what could be a busy autumn campaign for the New Zealand-bred five-year-old.
“She trialled over 900m (at Mornington) on the course proper. The surface was beautiful and she trialled quite well,” Nichols said.
“I just wanted her to have a reasonable workout because it will be her only trial. She will go to the races on February 9, either the Rubiton (Gr.2, 1100m) or the Bellmaine Stakes (Gr.3 1200m), probably leaning towards the Bellmaine Stakes, the mares race.”
Nichols said I Am A Star’s preparation to date has been trouble-free and depending on how she progresses, a trip to Sydney in the autumn could be on the cards.
“She’s had a fairly untroubled preparation. We have had a little issue with her feet in the past, but they are in pretty good nick at the moment,” he said.
“We are approaching our sixth or seventh racing campaign and I am as happy with this one as I have been with the others that have been successful.
“There are three Group Three mares races heading into the All Star Mile, if we get the votes, or the Sunline (Gr.2, 1600m) and then maybe up to Sydney for the Coolmore (Gr.1, 1500m).
“We might slip a Sangster (Gr.1, 1200m) and a Tatts Tiara (Gr.1, 1400m) in there. She’s going to have a fairly heavy preparation, with a bit of travelling, so maybe seven runs, possibly eight.
“We will just be guided by how she is going.”