Paul Shailer celebrated his biggest win as a trainer when Isti Star cashed in on a major Magic Millions opportunity at the Gold Coast on Friday night.
The daughter of Better Than Ready powered to a commanding win in the second edition of the $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1000m).
Isti Star’s victory came on Shailer’s new home track and the fact it was for a group of owners that includes some of his most loyal supporters made it particularly special.
“I want to make special mention of Brian Hooper and Helen Hooper who are in this filly, Brian isn’t in the best of health but he is here tonight with Helen and they have been great supporters of mine,” he said.
“It is really good to win a good race for him because he’s got a lot of shares in a lot of horses in my stable and it is great to be able to share it.”
The Hoopers are part of the group that was brought together to race Isti Star by Yarramalong Park after she passed-in when failing to reach her $140,000 reserve at last year’s Magic Millions Coast Yearling Sale.
Her dam is the Redoute’s Choice mare Istiraaha, who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Rewaaya.
Isti Star finished second-last in the $250,000 Magic Millions Debut in December but was spelled and returned to finish fourth in the Listed Calaway Gal (1200m) first-up before securing her place in the National Classic field with a 5-1/2-length maiden win in a 1100m Ipswich maiden.
The brown filly dropped back to 1000m on Friday night, but was put in all the rights spots by Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michael Rodd and dashed clear in the straight to have the race won a long way from home.
The $7.50 chance scored by one length from Victorian visitor Prince Tycoon, the $2.70 favourite, who travelled wide throughout after a tardy getaway but hit the line well to claim second, half-a-length in advance of Secret Sort ($41).
“Obviously she was identified early as a horse with immense talent and we thought we could win the Magic Millions with her, but it went terribly wrong,” Shailer said.
“She’s a horse that suffers from some allergies and she went shin-sore (so) we had to put her aside and be patient.
“At Ipswich she was brilliant, and tonight again she proved she is a quality filly.
“She’s going to get better with age. She’s versatile and I think she’ll stretch out over seven furlongs-plus.”
