Two-year-old filly Star Shadow (NZ) (Reliable Man) made an impressive winning debut at Otaki when she came from last on the home corner to take out the McMillan Equine Feeds 2YO (1300m).
The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared daughter of Reliable Man had looked a handy type in her three placed runs at the trials before making her debut on Saturday, with punters installing her as the $3.50 second favourite behind Ballon d’Or ($2) in the five-horse field.
Rider Wiremu Pinn allowed the Fortuna Bloodstock-owned filly to find her feet early on and only began to get serious as the leaders approached the home bend.
Ballon d’Or looked to be cruising at that point however Star Shadow quickly joined issue and the pair set down to a serious dogfight that went in favour of Star Shadow by a half head with Brilliant Battle finishing on nicely to take third.
“It was a great ride by Wiremu as he let her find her feet early on,” said Te Akau Racing Manager Reece Trumper.
“He’s a kid who is riding a lot of work for us at home and he deserves these opportunities.
“Also well done to John Galvin of Fortuna Bloodstock as it has been a while between drinks to get a winner for him and this is great as he has been a big supporter of our stable.”
Trumper believes Star Shadow, who was a $35,000 purchase by Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis in conjunction with Galvin from the Book 2 sale at Karaka in 2023, will be best when stepping out over even further than the 1300m she faced today.
“She is bred to cope with a wet track and the further she gets, the better she will get,” he said.
“What we do now I’m not sure but there are stakes races coming up in both the south and north islands or we might tip her out and give her a good three-year-old season.”
Bred by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey, Star Shadow is raced by the Star Shadow Fortuna Syndicate and is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Scene Queen who comes from a family that extends back to northern hemisphere Group One performers Fitnah, Caponi and former Waikato Stud-based stallion No Excuse Needed.
The win also brought up an early double for Pinn who had taken out race one in impressive fashion aboard the Lauren Brennan-trained Asgard (NZ) (Almanzor).
