$12,000 Weanling Purchase Claims Caulfield Feature

A filly purchased as a weanling at Karaka for just $12,000 scored an outstanding win in the Group 3 A$150,000 Winslow Group Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday and is now a leading classic contender.

Breaking from the widest barrier in the 13-horse field, I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible) went back in the field early for rider Steven King before roaring down the home straight to edge out Leotie (Darci Brahma) by a head.

“When we drew wide it released all the pressure, I thought we could ride her conservatively and let her power home,” trainer Shane Nichols said.

“She was a pair further back than I would have liked and Steve probably thought the same thing. I didn't think she was ever going to win until 20 (metres) to go.”

I Am A Star has now had four starts for three wins, earning more than A$210,000 in stakes. The Quezette Stakes was her second stakes win, having won the Group 3 National Stakes at Morphettville as a two-year-old.

I Am A Star will now be given the chance to contest the Group 1 Thousand Guineas in October.

"We'll get to the 1400-metre lead-up to the Thousand Guineas and then we'll assess where we go after that," Nichols said. "Steve is fairly adamant she'll run a mile.

"She's not a big robust filly so we'll nurse her along."

Bred by Eales Racing Pty Ltd, I Am A Star is out of the Dixieland Band mare Star Band. The stakes-winning filly is one of three winners from four foals to race out of the mare. Band on the Run is a dual stakes placegetter.

I Am A Star was offered by Rich Hill Stud at the 2014 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale, where Llanhennock Trust purchased her for $12,000. She was later pinhooked in Australia for $40,000.

Quezette Stakes runner-up Leotie has a sibling nominated for the 2017 National Yearling Sales Series, offered by Coolmore Australia.