Melbourne start considered for American Star

Trainer Mark Minervini is considering a trip to Melbourne for 3YO gelding American Star, who made a big impression when winning his Adelaide debut last Saturday.

He says, “American Star has come through the race very well, he’s cock-a-hoop. I’m thinking about sending him to Melbourne for a 3YO 1100-metre race at Caulfield on 19 September.

“He’s really jumped out of the ground in the last six weeks. He trialled well a month ago, but we thought he’d do better on a dry track with blinkers.”

Despite drawing widest of the nine runners in the 1000-metre maiden, the son of All American made the lead soon after the start, controlled the pace and ran away from the field to win by 2.5 lengths in 57.81. Of particular note was his 600-metre sectional time of 33.95, the fastest of the meeting, and achieved with ease.

His trainer believes American Star can continue to develop his racecraft. “I think he’ll be even better with a sit on the speed and that he can be effective up to 1400 metres.”

Minervini purchased the Arrowfield-bred American Star for $12,000 from the Cornerstone Stud draft at the 2014 Magic Millions Adelaide. The gelding’s dam, Special Sweep (by End Sweep) is an unraced daughter of champion sprinter Special, also the grand-dam of multiple Group 1 winner Bomber Bill.

Another Arrowfield graduate in the Minervini stable is the soon-to-be-named 3YO gelding by Starcraft from the grand broodmare Ain’t Seen Nothin’.

Minervini says, “I really like him, he’s a cracker, and he can gallop, but he’s a big horse and I’ve been kind to him. He came back into work a fortnight ago and he should run before Christmas.”

Ain’t Seen Nothin’s first six foals to the races have all won, including the multiple Singapore stakeswinner  Stepitup (by Hussonet), dual Adelaide stakeswinner Ain’tnofallenstar (by Starcraft) and Group 3 winner Bachman (by All American).