If the win of the Written Tycoon debutant Southport Tycoon in the opener at Geelong on Friday came as a pleasant surprise for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the Zoustar mare Golden Estrella carried full support of the stable in the 4YO+ Maiden Plate (1230m), but she had her supporters sweating.
Ben Melham eased Golden Estrella back to worse than midfield to find some cover. Forced widest of all on the home turn, the 4yo daughter of Zoustar looked to be treading water before picking up the bit with less than 100m to run.
She motored home to defeat New York Scandal (Manhattan rain) by a half-length, with Moonflower (Lonhro) a neck back in third.
Golden Estrella went off an odds-on favourite following a solid fourth when on debut over 1200m at Sandown Lakeside on July 5.
“She’s a nice mare but not the finished product,” Melham said.
“She is lightly raced a lacks a bit of speed from the gates, which often puts you in an awkward position.
“She was the best horse in the race and did it the hard way. She was three deep, and I had to get going around the corner, which I did not want to do.
“She has good ability and will win much better races than this.”
Cosigned by Widden Stud to the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Golden Estrella was a $625,000 purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock.
She is the third winner from as many to race for the Flying Spur mare Thrill.
A $140,000 purchase for The Racing Agency from the Willow Park draft at the 2018 Inglis Chairmans Sale, Thrill is a half-sister to the Group II VRC Blamey Stakes winner, and 4-time Group 1 placed Star Of The Seas and the Listed winner and Group 1 VRC Darley Classic, and Group 1 Lightning Stakes runner-up Spieth.
In January, Curran Bloodstock went to $400,000 to secure a three-quarter sister to Golden Estrella, by Zousian, from the Widden draft at the Magic Millions.
After foaling a Zousain filly last spring, Thrill was covered by Trapeze Artist.
