Improving filly Ciaron’s Star has edged closer to a berth in the Golden Slipper after a tough victory in the Pierro Plate (1100m) at Randwick, although connections are keen to see her reaffirm that form before locking in a start in the $5 million feature.
Settling prominently under Tommy Berry, Ciaron’s Star ($5.50) quickened decisively in the straight to defeat Better By Far ($5.50) by three-quarters of a length, with Persian Wonder ($14) a further 1-1/4 lengths away in third.
Jo Gerard-Dubord, assistant to trainer Ciaron Maher, said the win had secured the filly a crack at one of the key Slipper lead-ups and a repeat performance would likely guarantee her spot in the world’s richest juvenile race.
“You’ve got a Sweet Embrace in two weeks, a Reisling in three weeks, so we will probably look at one or the other and decide from there,” Gerard-Dubord said.
“She is very straightforward. Mentally, very mature. She was very good first-up, naturally she improved from that. She will just keep improving.”
Maher also prepares Magic Millions Classic winner Unit Five and runner-up Tornado Valley, providing strong reference points for the current crop of juveniles in the stable.
Gerard-Dubord believes there is little separating their leading youngsters and described it as a particularly even and talented group.
“We have got a very good group of two-year-olds this year,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say there is a standout. The two Magic Millions boys, (stakes placegetter) Spicy Miss, and we’ve got a couple more coming out in the next couple of weeks.”
The start of the Pierro Plate was delayed when Caloocan Beauty required reshoeing behind the barriers and subsequently refused to load, leading to her late scratching.
Ciaron’s Star handled the delay without issue, beginning cleanly to take up a position on speed, a factor Berry felt proved decisive.
“That’s how these two-year-old races are usually won. They’re won at the start and she executed herself well,” Berry said.
“Today was all about getting the win to get her close to a Slipper, and she’s got to keep improving the way she has, but she’s heading in the right direction.”
