Trainers usually rue a wide draw, but it kept the nerves away for Shane Nichols before I Am A Star’s first-up win in a stakes race at Caulfield.
I Am A Star drew the widest barrier – No.13 after three scratchings – in the Group Three Quezette Stakes on Saturday, but it mattered little as she charged home to an impressive win.
Shane Nichols
Ridden by Steven King, I Am A Star ($6.50) scored by a head over Leottie ($11), with Athena Lass ($10) a half-head away in third.
“If I had of drawn (barrier) five I would have been toey and nervous about what could possibly be,” Nichols said.
“But when we drew 16 it released all the pressure. I thought we could ride her conservatively and let her power home.”
Having her fourth career start, I Am A Star had won at Flemington and Morphettville, in a stakes race, before a spell.
Nichols questioned whether the filly had done enough following a four-week break and eight weeks of work.
Halfway down the Caulfield straight he thought the daughter of I Am Invincible was going to run a nice race before putting on the afterburners.
“She was a pair further back than I would have liked and Steve probably thought the same thing,” Nichols said.
“I didn’t think she was ever going to win until 20 (metres) to go.”
Nichols has the Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 3 earmarked as her next outing followed by the Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 24.
“We’ll get to the 1400m lead-up to the Thousand Guineas and then we’ll assess where we go after that,” Nichols said.
“Steve is fairly adamant she’ll run a mile.
“She’s not a big robust filly so we’ll nurse her along.”