Nichols’ Star on song for Let’s Elope

Myer Classic winner I Am A Star (right) ready to step up at Flemington.

Trainer Shane Nichols is looking for history to repeat itself when I Am A Star runs at Flemington.

Nichols has adopted a similar routine leading into Saturday’s Group Two Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) that resulted in the mare’s third-up win last campaign.

After two runs in sprint races, I Am A Star won the Kewney Stakes over Saturday’s course and distance in March before being successful at Moonee Valley 13 days later.

I Am A Star has had two runs this campaign, finishing fourth over 1200m at Flemington before running seventh in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on September 2.

“She came off a similar prep last time,” Nichols said.

“She ran second in the Rubiton, went into the Oakleigh Plate and then won the Kewney.

“This time she’s had a couple of runs against the boys and now we go into the Let’s Elope.

“She’s going really well. It just doesn’t read it on paper.”

Nichols said the mare needed the outing first-up before the tempo counted against her at Caulfield but the performances point to her running well on Saturday despite having to shoulder 59kg.

“If it was a handicap the others would be getting eight and 10 kilos off her whereas now they’re only getting two, three and four,” he said.

“She’s still got to carry it but she can still run well and finish third, fourth, fifth and still be a good chance in the Stocks Stakes.”

The Stocks Stakes, for fillies and mares at weight-for-age, will be I Am A Star’s next outing and will determine her path.

The Toorak Handicap at Caulfield and Myer Classic, the Group One race she won last year at Flemington, are options, while she is still in the Cox Plate.

“She only gets 1-1/2 kilos off Winx which makes it a bit tricky,” Nichols said.

“If Winx wasn’t in the equation it might be higher up on our radar.”