Five Star produced one of the more complete staying performances in recent times with a dominant 11 length win in blazing time at Sandown Park yesterday.
He was expected to win comfortably but stunned fans with his time of 41.32 – the quickest time of the year over 715m and the seventh fastest ever.
“It surprised me a little. He went 41.50 when he won at Speed Star but these are better conditions for it with the warmer weather,” said trainer Paul Abela.
Abela has eyes on the Topgun Stayers at The Meadows in early November then the Bold Trease at Sandown Park later that month.
“We’re hoping to get a start in the Topgun. We’re bypassing Sydney with the border restrictions. I’ll pick and choose when he races leading up to the features.”
Not only have border restrictions halted ambition to race interstate but also past experience which didn’t go to plan. Five Star travelled to Brisbane in June and didn’t handle the experience.
“It was a disaster and it knocked him around. To be honest we’re pretty lucky to have got his confidence back. Peter (Lagogiane) did a great job but the dog just didn’t handle being away from home.”
“I’m not doing it again. He’s not going anywhere now.”
The bond Abela has with Five Star, or ‘Jarman’ as he’s known to those closest to him, is strong and obvious when seeing them together at the track.
“I let him out for a gallop the other day and he didn’t take off, he just stood there and preferred to be by my side so I had to get moving myself. I’ll be kicking the missus out soon,” he joked.
“He’s a funny dog, he loves the attention and gets plenty of it.”
Later on popular sprinter McCooly’s Lad put the cherry on top of his remarkable return to racing with a blistering win in 29.11 – click here for the full story.
Click here for last night’s results
Those who have gone faster – Here’s Tears (41.16), Miata (41.17), Tornado Tears (41.20, 41.30), Rippin’ Sam (41.25) and Space Star (41.26). Within the top 8 fastest over 715m only two were not trained by Rob Britton
