Scratched from Friday night’s Listed Goldmarket at the Gold Coast, trainer Matthew Smth made the right decision, sending his 7yo Reward For Effort gelding Way To The Stars down to Victoria for the Listed MRC W.J. Adams Stakes (1000m).
A son of G1 Blue Diamond winner Reward For Effort, who interestingly won on debut at this meeting way back in 2009 when winning the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (C&G), Way To The Stars has not been seen on race day since his second in the Listed Bribie Handicap at Eagle Farm in mid-December.
After scratching him from the Gold Coast, trainer Mathew Smith felt that the barrier played a key role in the decision-making process.
"We have taken the harder option but the draw at the Gold Coast and with the speed in the race I could see him caught wide," Smith said.
Way To The Stars was surprisingly on the fourth line of betting in the seven-horse field behind the short-priced favourite Oak Hill who has shown promise, but is yet to step up and secure his own black-type victory.
From barrier two, jockey Ethan Brown took the gelding forward to settle in second position on the rail tracking noted leader and last year’s race runner-up Midwest, with leading contender Beast Mode to his immediate outside as this trio got away from the rest of the field.
Charging into the home corner, Way To The Starts went up along the rail to challenge Midwest while Beast Mode was starting to weaken as Oak Hill was still last, but starting to come around the field.
Getting the better of Midwest, Brown went for home aboard Way To The Stars, hugging the rails all the way to the line to defeat Oak Hill by three parts of a length, just ahead of the unlucky Geegees Mistruth who should’ve finished closer.
With eight wins and a further six placed efforts from 26 starts with earnings of $669,120, the Mr M Zammit and Mr M J Zammit-bred Way To The Stars is the best of two winners from three runners out of Written Tycoon mare Writteninthestars.
From the extended pedigree of Champion Sunline, Way To The Stars was the final foal of Writteninthestars who retired from stud duties after just three foals.
Riding Way To The Stars for the first time, Brown was suitably impressed with his effort.
“He ran a blinder last start in a strong race,” said Brown post-race.
“The key was today getting him out the gates and once he bounced, I was never going to hand up the lead.
“He's a horse with sustained speed. We used that. That's his main asset. And he pulled away late. It was a good win.
“The only concern was the ear muffs this prep. They thought it may have dulled him a bit, but it's probably working in his favour. The addition to them, he didn't reef and tear.
“We were just able to flow into the race on our own terms, and he just conserves a lot more energy doing that, and that's probably going to make him a better horse this prep.
When asked if it was worth pushing on towards the G1 Oakleigh Plate, Brown felt he would have conditions to suit.
“Yeah, why not? I mean, he's got the speed, and he'll drop down in the weights there, so he'd be well placed in an Oakleigh Plate.”
Way To The Stars is one of 20 stakes performers for his sire Reward For Effort who passed away back in 2021 with his final crop of runners being 3yos of this season.
