Winless in nine starts and almost twelve months, the Chris Waller-trained Star Of The Seas booked his spot for the $5million All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley with a commanding win in Saturday’s $200,000 Group II Darley Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
One of the most likeable horses in training, the 6yo son of Ocean Park came with a barnstorming finish under Damian Lane to defeat Fifty Stars (IRE) (Sea The Stars) by a short-neck with a further one and three-quarter lengths back to Buffalo River (USA) (Noble Mission) in third.
With his second stakes win, Star Of The Seas advances his record to eight wins, seven seconds and four thirds from 28 starts with earnings of $1,285,000.
Stable representative Jo Taylor said it was a just reward for the geldings consistency.
“He came down and travelled in fantastic order,” Taylor said.
“Chris (Waller) was down yesterday for the first time in a long time and he was quite bullish about his chances and he thought he’d run a really good race and he certainly warranted Chris’ confidence.
“He’s just as honest as the day is long. Especially on the wet tracks, you know that those are going to benefit him.
We managed to get a ticket in the All-Star Mile so that was a big tick today.
“He doesn't really know to run a bad race. We’ll take him to The Valley to have a nice look around there and get accustomed to the circuit as we know it can be tricky sometimes. But, we’re in it.
“Don’t know if it’s going to be another year before his (Waller) next appearance but hopefully it’ll be more regularly now and it’s always fantastic to see our fearless leader.”
Withdrawn from New Zealand Bloodstock's 2016 Select Yearling Sale by Trelawney Stud because of x-ray issues, Star Of The Seas was sold in a private transaction to Tony Muollo.
A three-quarter brother to Aquis Farm’s magnificent looking Spieth (Thorn Park), Star Of The Seas is out of the imported Titus Livius mare Stella Livia (GB) whose only racetrack appearance for Richard Gibson was a ninth of 10 over a mile for two-year-olds at Longchamp.
Stella Livia (GB) was purchased by Tasman Bloodstock for 50,000 guineas at the 2007 Tattersalls December Mare Sale and besides Spieth and Star Of The Seas she is the dam of the $250,000 earner Travancore who seemed to have a found a new lease on life after joining the Clare Cunningham team.
A half-sister to the Group 1 winner Ransom O’War (Red Ransom), the Horse of the Year & Champion 3YO in Germany in 2003 (Int.), Stella Livia (GB) had her seventh and final foal, a colt by Shamexpress, sell to Danny O’Brien for $80,000 at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Named Alcides, he has won two and placed in five of his 11 starts to date.
