Legendary Victorian jockey Damien Oliver will partner top Tasmanian filly Still A Star when she resumes from a spell at Caulfield next month.
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Longford trainer Bill Ryan said he would be guided by Oliver's assessment when planning Still A Star's spring assignments.
"I could have booked a claiming apprentice but I'd prefer a senior rider like Oliver who has a wealth of knowledge and experience," Ryan said.
"He'll be able to tell me where she sits as far as the spring is concerned.
"We've nominated her for the Cox Plate so we are living the dream - but if she's not up to it, we'll lower our sights."
Still A Star, who ended her three-year-old campaign with four successive wins in listed races, had her second barrier trial at Spreyton on Tuesday.
She finished second to Strike Celebration over 800m, beaten a nose.
"It was a good trial - Brendon (McCoull) was happy with her," Ryan said.
"She jumped in front, and with no pace on, she held the lead which is not her go. She's better with a sit.
"She'll trial again next week, stepping up to 1150m.
"That timing should be ideal - if I waited for the following week's trials it would be too close to the Caulfield race."
Ryan plans to bring Still A Star home between Melbourne runs, the same routine Adam Trinder has used successfully with Mystic Journey.
"I've spent a lifetime getting a good horse like this so I don't intend handballing her to someone else," he said.
Mystic Journey also trialled on Tuesday, scoring a comfortable win over 1009m, and she is also on target to resume on August 15 in the weight-for-age P B Lawrence Stakes.
The other trial winners included veteran sprinter Tshahitsi who was quietly ridden to score by two lengths in the second fastest time of the morning for 800m.
LETHAL'S CUP WIN POPULAR ALL-ROUND
Wynyard-trained greyhound Wynburn Lethal was a fitting winning of the inaugural Shane Yates Memorial Cup at Mowbray on Monday night.
According to Launceston Greyhound Racing Club manager Peter Hayes, Wynburn Lethal was one of the late racecaller's favourite dogs.
"Yatesy would have enjoyed her winning," Hayes said.
The win also had special significance to Wynburn Lethal's trainer Ben Englund.
"Of all the feature races, this is the one I wanted to win, being named in honour of Shane Yates," he said.
Wynburn Lethal jumped in front from box 5 but Fabulous Baroque railed inside her to take the lead nearing the home turn.
Fabulous Baroque got almost a length clear in the straight before Wynburn Lethal came again to score by about a neck.
Dashing George flashed home for an eye-catching third, well clear of fourth-placed Sir Rogan and the favourite Handsome Prince who was slow away and struck trouble.
The win was worth $10,000 to Wynburn Lethal's owners who include Englund's sister Leah and her partner Matt Carrolan.
TASSIE PUNTERS GO FROM UBET TO TAB
Tasmanian TAB customers now have access to the same betting products as punters in every other state.
The latest development in the Tabcorp - Tatts merger has seen Ubet customers in Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory have their accounts transferred from Ubet to TAB.
Whereas they previously had access only to Ubet products, they can now take advantage of the same products available to TAB customers in Victoria and New South Wales.
The transfer of Ubet customers to the combined Tabcorp technology platform took place this week.
In the words of Tabcorp, TAB is their new 'home ground'.
Tabcorp said the highlights of the new TAB offering included same game multis, flexi betting, new vision of US sports and extra tote products (including Big 6, early quaddies and running doubles).
"Customers can access their new home ground through the updated version of the app or by logging onto the website," Tabcorp said.
"And we are on hand to guide people through the process where assistance is required."
No announcement has been made as yet on the merging of betting pools but it's anticipated that money from the old Ubet states will eventually be merged into the NSW TAB pools.