Herarcomesthestar will be racing for more than prize money when she lines up in a Stakes race at Sandown.
While any prize money for finishing in the top three in the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) on Saturday would be nice for connections, ‘Black Type’ is more important.
Trainer John Moloney is taking a leap of faith with the mare on Saturday and is hoping an edge in fitness may give Hearcomesthestar that advantage.
“For a Zoustar mare to get ‘Black Type’ would be pretty special,” Moloney said.
“She’s pleasing me to take a chance at a ‘Black Type’ race early in the autumn before the better ones get up and about.
“We’re fit and well and it’s a nice chance to put her into the race and if she could get into the finish, it would be hip-hip-hooray for us.”
Moloney said he and connections had thoughts of travelling to Tasmania for the Group 3 Mystic Journey Stakes (1200m) on February 7.
While that contest in Tasmania may have been an easier test, the logistics of the trip swayed Moloney to chase ‘Black Type’ closer to home.
“It’s a long journey into Hobart from where the boat docks, so we decided against that and made the decision to take our chance here,” Moloney said.
“Hopefully it’s easier in our own backyard than going all the way down there.”
While Heraromesthestar is yet to race on the Sandown Lakeside track, the mare is no stranger to Sandown having raced on the Hillside course, winning her debut back in May 2023.
“She was able to come off the back and win that and then she got stuck on the fence on a wet track one day at the end of her previous campaign and had no luck,” Moloney said.
“She has drawn out, so I think we’ll be getting back and running our best at the finish.”
In all, Hearcomesthestar has registered four wins from her 16 starts and a shade over $210,000 in prize money, but ‘Black Type’ on her breeding page would add significantly to her prospects as a broodmare.
