Trainer Michael Clements must have felt like deja-vu after he pulled off an almost identical training feat with comeback kid Starshine on Monday.

 

The Ad Valorem four-year-old had not raced since June when fourth to Conilad in a Novice race over 1200m after the Zimbabwean-born conditioner discovered to his dismay the gelding had again been put paid by tendon issues.

 

His medical history showed the same problem after his debut second back in December 2015, which then put him on the sidelines for five months.


Starshine (Alan Munro) gives his rivals some sight in Race 7 on Monday.

Starshine then returned in a Restricted Maiden race over 1200m in May, bouncing straight back to the winner’s circle for his first career win.

 

Unfortunately for connections, the joy was shortlived when tendon issues (different to the first one) again derailed his campaign in the wake of his third start – which was that fourth place to Conilad.

 

Clements decided the My Friends Stable-owned galloper needed an even longer time to recover – and the results were just as happy.

 

Unsighted for most of the 1200m journey of the $60,000 Plentiful Money Stakes, a Class 4 Division 2 race, Starshine ($29) had his job cut out when he looked caught behind the eight-ball at the 300m, hemmed in on the fence with nowhere to go.

 

Upfront, Sun Mirage (Wong Chin Chuen) was doing his best job to cling on to his slender lead, but it soon proved to be an untenable advantage.

 

As Alan Munro went looking for galloping room aboard Starshine, he switched his mount across heels towards a gap which suddenly popped up as Prechagorda (Amirul Ismadi) drifted out.

 

It looked like a bold bid, but over the Long Course, the move was not too late. Starshine was able to find acres of land on the outside, and showing an explosive turn of foot, the gelding scooted past his rivals in a flash towards what was to be a soft one-length win from Sun Mirage.

 

Moritz Eclipse (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) ran third another half-length away. The winning time was 1min 10.37secs for the 1200m on the Long Course.

 

“He had two breaks for two different niggling tendon issues, and he’s come back a winner on both occasions,” said Clements.

 

“His trials had been good. We knew he had ability, but we thought he might need the run first-up as he was still a bit big and burly.

 

“But the way he won today was very pleasing. He can only improve further after that first run.”

 

With that second win from four starts, Starshine has now taken his earnings past the $90,000 mark for his connections