PAUL SHAILER LANDS A BIG WIN AS ISTI STAR TAKES OUT THE $1 MILLION FEATURE RACE AT THE GOLD COAST

By Graham Potter | Friday, May 23, 2025

Trainer Paul Shailer enjoyed the biggest win of his career when the filly Isti Star took out the $1 million Magic Millions National Two-Year-Old Classic over 1000m at the Gold Coast.

Ridden to perfection by Michael Rodd, who used every advantage from the number one barrier draw, jumping the daughter of Better Than Ready into the lead at the break, before taking a trail, sitting just a length off Darn Hot Lady who was keen to take up the early running.

Rodd was happy to hold that second place position and he had a clear sight of the leader when Darn Hot Lady brought the field into the home straight.

With 250m left to run, Rodd gave Isti Star (a $7.50 chance) the green light to lengthen her stride and she duly relieved Darn Hot Lady of the lead with the minimum of fuss to quickly open up a healthy advantage at the head of affairs, an advantage that she held comfortably to the line, coming home in impressive fashion.

The race favourite Prince Tycoon did cut Isti Star’s winning margin to a length at the line, but the result was never seriously in doubt from the moment she breezed past Darn Hot Lady.

“I’m thrilled to bits,” said Shailer post-race.

“She was identified early on as a horse with immense talent. We thought we could win the Magic Millions with her, but it all went wrong.

“She is a horse that suffers from allergies … she went shin sore … and we just had to put her aside and be patient.

“It hasn’t been the ideal prep. We had to run her first in the Calaway Girl on a heavy track from an outside barrier (where Itsi Star finished fourth behind the smart Dragonne Rouge). We had to run her with the view of being here tonight.

“Then at Ipswich she was brilliant (when winning a Maiden by 5.43 lengths) … and then tonight again she proved she is a real quality filly.

“She is going to get better with age. She’s versatile. I think eventually she’ll stretch out over seven furlongs.

“I’m so proud of her because she has been through a lot.”

“We’ll enjoy the night … go home and map out a plan for her. She is an exciting horse.”

Isti Star has won two of her four career starts and now boasts an impressive $647 200 in prize-money, just six months after having her first race start.

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