I was confident she'd run a strong 2100m - but not as good as that
- Trainer Bill Ryan
As feature-race wins go, they don't come much easier than Still A Star's domination of the $100,000 Launceston Guineas at Mowbray on Saturday night.
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Stepping up to 2100m for the first time and caught three wide for the first half of the race, the only filly in the field blitzed her rivals by five lengths.
"Absolutely superb," said Longford trainer Bill Ryan.
"I was confident she'd run a strong 2100m - but not as good as that.
"I was worried when she was caught three wide and over-racing a bit but she just flew when Brendon (McCoull) hit the go button."
Ryan said the $100,000 Strutt Stakes at Elwick on February 9 and $150,000 Tasmanian Oaks at Mowbray on February 23 were the logical next targets for Still A Star.
"I suppose I could also enter her for the Derby and see what comes (from interstate) but you'd think the Strutt and Oaks would be easy pickings for her going on tonight's run."
McCoull, who had to waste hard to ride at 55kg, said he didn't quite have the same confidence as Ryan that Still A Star would run 2100m.
"To be honest, I was a little bit worried about it but I had faith in Bill's judgement," he said.
"It was a bit tactical out there, as it often is in big races.
"It got messy turning out of the straight the first time and I wasn't happy being caught three wide.
"But she's a serious filly."
Still A Star ($1.70 to $1.60) scored by five lengths from Heaven's Bonus, who was gallant in defeat after missing a lead-up run, with Vamos Raffa a neck away third.
CUPS CONTENDER
Toorak Affair looks ready to step up to the big league after a soft win in the $30,000 Brighton Cup.
The Michael Trinder-trained mare hadn't previously won beyond 1650m but ran out a strong 2100m to score by two lengths from favourite Shady Hustle with leader Kanji another two lengths away third.
Trinder was non-committal about future targets but the 2400m of the Hobart and Launceston Cups is starting to look within the six-year-old's scope.
"I'll let the dust settle before making any decisions," the trainer said.
"She was very well ridden (by Anthony Darmanin) from a good barrier and was on the fence most of the way - but she was very dominant at the finish."
Trinder said the win dispelled his concerns about Toorak Affair disappointing sixth in the Devonport Cup.
"I couldn't understand that run - I walked away amazed," he said.
Darmanin said he was nervous at the 600m when trapped on the fence as the mare "likes a bit of room."
