ISTI STAR RETURNS FOR PAUL SHAILER

By Graham Potter | Thursday, February 26, 2026

When one door closes, another door opens … at least that is the call if you are lucky enough to be able move forward with another option, and for trainer Paul Shailer, the ups and downs of life as a trainer is aptly summed up by the path followed by his two exciting prospects Isti Star and Toorak Jewel.

Isti Star returns to race action at Eagle Farm on Saturday in the QTIS Jewel Prelude Three-Year-Old Quality Handicap over 1000m which will be her first start as a three-year-old.

The daughter of Better Than Ready gave Shailer his first $1 million race winner when she won the Magic Millions National Two-Year-Old Classic in May 2025, and she followed that up with a highly creditable runner-up finish in the Listed Qxlade Stakes at Eagle Farm in her next start, those results seemingly putting her on track for better things to come.

But that door was slammed shut when Isti Star became ill and was diagnosed with pneumonia which needed careful treatment and a very exact, measured rehabilitation programme for her to emerge on the other side ready to resume her racing career. She lost eight months of her career in the process.

Her return is an obvious boost to the Shailer stable, not just in relation to Isti Star’s own well-being, but also because it keeps Shailer well and truly in the feature race mix after he recently had to pull the pin on Toorak Jewel’s projected feature race campaign after the filly presented with lameness following an exhibition gallop at Eagle Farm.

Like Isti Star, Toorak Jewel seemed to have plenty to look forward to after winning the $500 000 Magic Millions The Debut Plate over 1000m but, again like Isti Star, those aspirations were cut short in unfortunate fashion.

So, just as Toorak Jewel left the stage, Isti Star has stepped back onto it.

It’s been a bit of revolving door for Shailer with his two potential rising stars over the last nine months with that frustrating ‘door’s opening, door’s closing’ scenario.

But the show marches on and Isti Star will now be the focus of some attention on Saturday where her prowess will be tested by eleven opponents.

Michael Rodd, who partnered Isti Star to her $1 million race win and in the Oxlade, instead takes the ride on the Shaun Dwyer trained Dragonne Rouge in the Jewel Prelude on Saturday, with Ben Thomson being handed the reins of Isti Star for the first time.

Isti Star is currently on the third line of betting at $6.50 behind the strong race favourite Earn To Burn ($2.70), who will be bidding for a hat trick of wins, and Forgotten Spirit ($6). Dargonne Rouge is a $13 chance.