WA-bred filly Jasstar won her maiden at $103 at Balaklava on Wednesday but the price didn’t reflect the confidence of her owner-trainer Peter Nolan in the Schweppes Plate (1050m).
Jasstar (3f I’m All The Talk – Hopetoun by Pins) was tailed off on debut at Gawler last month when she didn’t go a yard in the sloppy going. The Good 4 surface second-up made all the difference and she took a split one off the fence for Polly Brewster to prevail in a three-way photo-finish from Dirty Old Town (Dirty Work) and Simply Sid (Sizzling).
She reminds Nolan of Hankstar (Delago Deluxe) who hated wet tracks but was good enough on top of the ground to complete a hat-trick at Morphettville in February 2021.
Jasstar pictured as a yearling prior to the 2023 Inglis December Sale
“I knew she was a talent when she ran a winning gallop before her first start,” Nolan said. “But I also knew she wouldn’t get through the sticky track after watching the first race that day at Gawler.”
Jasstar was bred in the Great Southern by Tom and Ann Croucher with Stephanie Mitchell trading under Foxton Bloodstock. She is a half-sister to Golden Kathleen (Leonardo Da Hinchi) who won a Bunbury nursery on debut in February last year before finishing second at Group 3 level in the Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) and WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
Their dam Hopetoun is a NZ-bred Ascot winner who traces back to Kiwi stayers Waisake (G3 Wellington Cup) and Monachee (LR Dunedin Gold Cup). The I’m All The Talk – Pins cross has also produced The Spruiker who was named 2020-21 WA 3YO of the Year.
“I spotted her online in the 2023 Inglis December Sale and bought her for $9,000,” Nolan recalled. “She was in WA and looked a strong, nuggetty type. I received an offer for her later on but it wasn’t life-changing. And I needed another Hankstar hence the name Jasstar.”
