Winless in seven starts, the Danny O'Brien-trained Starelle chose the perfect spot to break her maiden in Saturday's $200,000Group II Kewney Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
Ridden by Craig Williams, Starelle had just two of the 11 starters behind her at the 300. Willians navigated a passage between runners to hook up with Chica Fuerte and Personal, and those three fought it out to the finish.
It was the daughter of More Than Ready (USA) who had a short-head advantage over Chica Fuerte (Hinchinbrook) with Personal (Fastnet Rock) a half-head back in third.
Runner-up in the Group II Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington last spring, Starelle came into the race off a third behind Zoudancer in the Group III Vanity Stakes at Flemington on February 13.
O'Brien said Starelle thoroughly deserved the win.
"She was tipped out in the Manifold in a similar race in the spring. I thought she was going to get nutted again in a photo, but she dug deep and it was a nice win," O'Brien said.
She's always competed in good races and she's really furnishing into a lovely three-year-old filly now. I think there'll be more wins in store.
"She's got a great pedigree, and we're very pleased to be involved with her."
"Robert (Anderson) has got some lovely fillies. Paradee (fourth in the Group 1 Australian Cup) ran a really good race for him. He's very pleased to get another stakes-winning filly today.
"She will probably head towards Adelaide. She might stay here for the stakes race at Moonee Valley in a couple of weeks time. She is VOBIS Gold (nominated), so the VOBIS Gold Day and then maybe the Australasian Oaks."
Bred by Hesket Bloodstock, Starelle was consigned by Amarina farm to the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where she failed to meet her $250,000 reserve.
The daughter of More Than Ready (USA) is the first winner for the Reset mare Star Of Giselle, whose nine wins included the Group II SAJC Queen of the South Stakes, Group III MVRC Tesio Stakes, and Group III MRC Mannerism Stakes.
Star Of Giselle is a half-sister to the crack racemare Solicit (Street Cry), who won the Kewney Stakes in 2014. She also won the Group II Guy Walter stakes and was placed in three Group 1s, the VRC Oaks, ATC Coolmore Classic and Vinery Stud Stakes.
Star Of Giselle has an unraced 2yo filly by Snitzel named Star Waltz, who is in training with Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra.
After two fruitless seasons, Star Of Giselle was covered by Dundeel last spring.
Starelle becomes the 208th stakes-winner for More Than Ready (USA), who spent the last winter in Kentucky after 19 glorious seasons shuttling to Vinery Stud in the Hunter Valley.
