I Am A Star has become the first three-year-old filly to win the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m), after producing a gutsy start-to-finish performance at Flemington Racecourse this afternoon.
I Am A Star became the first three-year-old to win the Group 1 Myer Classic at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
I Am A Star has been a strong and consistent performer amongst her own age group this season, but the Myer Classic was the first occasion that trainer Shane Nichols had tested the filly amongst open company.
Jumping from the gates well, in-form hoop Dean Yendall allowed the filly to stride forward and take a positive position alongside fellow three-year-old Whispering Brook on pace over the back straight and approaching the bend.
Hugging the rails leading onto the final straight, Yendall allowed the filly plenty of time to balance berfore asking for an extra effort, and the filly still had plenty in the tank when she hit top gear; maintaining to the line to beat French Emotion and Denmagic.
Yendall only posted his first Group 1 triumph aboard Yankee Rose in the Spring Champion Stakes three weeks ago and was thrilled to add to the tally aboard I Am A Star in the Myer Classic.
“She just had the right run,” Yendall said.
“I was able to dictate across there and get her just a nice, comfortable run.
“There was a bit of pressure from Zac (Purton, Euro Angel) on his horse getting to the 600m but I was just able to be in the right spot into the straight and she gave me a nice kick at the 400m.
“I thought that with the weight on my back, hopefully I’m going to be good enough to hang them off, which she was.
“Huge thanks to Shane Nichols for the magnificent opportunity.”
Nichols also secured his first Group 1 win in this afternoon’s Myer Classic and was thrilled that the filly was able to make the most of her light weight in the race.
“I’m trying to take it all in,” Nichols said.
“I felt that she came off the bridle at the top of the straight but he just had to give her a bit of a stir-up I think, to get back into the flow.
“With 49kgs they were always going to struggle to catch us late.
“Very, very excited and extremely pleased about being able to win my first Group 1 here during the carnival, on Derby Day. It’s just a great moment.”
Punters who backed I Am A Star to win the Myer Classic with Ladbrokes.com.au have been paid out on $9.50 odds!
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | I AM A STAR (NZ) | Shane Nichols | Dean Yendall | – | 10 | 49kg | $8.50 |
| 2 | 6 | FRENCH EMOTION | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 0.4L | 3 | 57kg | $31 |
| 3 | 11 | DENMAGIC | David Pfieffer | Tommy Berry | 0.5L | 6 | 56.5kg | $61 |
| 4 | 10 | DIXIE BLOSSOMS | Ron Quinton | Tim Clark | 0.8L | 4 | 56.5kg | $10 |
| 5 | 13 | PURE PRIDE (NZ) | Murray Johnson | Craig Williams | 0.9L | 7 | 56.5kg | $51 |
| 6 | 3 | ZANBAGH | John P Thompson | Mark Zahra | 1.1L | 5 | 57kg | $101 |
| 7 | 9 | PEARLS | John O’Shea | James McDonald | 1.2L | 12 | 56.5kg | $31 |
| 8 | 2 | FIRST SEAL | John P Thompson | Blake Shinn | 1.3L | 1 | 57kg | $6.50 |
| 9 | 4 | DANISH TWIST | Kris Lees | Joao Moreira | 1.5L | 8 | 57kg | $11 |
| 10 | 5 | HEAVENS ABOVE | Tim Martin | Tye Angland | 2.25L | 15 | 57kg | $18 |
| 11 | 8 | SERENE MAJESTY | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 2.35L | 9 | 56.5kg | $51 |
| 12 | 7 | DON’T DOUBT MAMMA | Tony McEvoy | Dwayne Dunn | 4.6L | 13 | 56.5kg | $5.50F |
| 13 | 14 | WHISPERING BROOK | Simon A Miller | Chris Parnham | 6.1L | 2 | 49kg | $6 |
| 14 | 12 | EURO ANGEL (NZ) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Zac Purton | 9.35L | 11 | 56.5kg | $7 |
| 15 | 1 | RISING ROMANCE (NZ) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Damian Lane | 15.35L | 14 | 57kg | $31 |
