Miss Three Stars and her Dublin-born jockey Samantha Wynne provided a Cinderella story when the pair captured the $100,000 Group Three eStar Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday.
Wynne is the subject of an Irish TV series following her meteor rise in the jockey racks in this country. Since arriving here four years ago to become a jockey, Wynne has not only fulfilled that ambition but she has so far ridden 173 winners, making her one of the most sort after riders in the South Island despite still being an apprentice and losing her claim - over 70 winners ago, achieved more than a year ago.
Wynne, rode 63 winners last season placing her 13th on the National Premiership, and second in the South Island.
In Saturday's feature, the pair jumped from barrier 13 settling at the rear of the field. Wynne slowly improved her mount on the inside of the field as most riders searched for better ground.
Race favourite Platinum Command also settled at the rear, swooped the field down the home straight and momentarily hit the front with less that 100m to travel but Miss Three Stars with a sustained run pipped Platinum Command by a short head at the post. Top-weight Taurus was one and half lengths further back in third. The winning time was 1:44.37.
"If we didn't go up the inside, I don't think we would have won," Wynne said.
"We actually got checked at the bottom of the straight, it was probably a good thing because when it closed in on me that's when I went to the inside. At the 200m mark I thought I'd be happy if I placed, but she just didn't give up, she kept giving and giving."
With the Irish TV crew present, it couldn't have set up any better for the 27-year-old Wynne. Aboard her favourite horse, the pair winning their biggest race of their careers to date.
Wynne was quick to praise her mounts' trainer, Tommy Beckett.
"Tommy has done such a great job with her," Wynne said.
The Group Three feature was Miss Three Stars ninth win from 39 starts, along with eight minor placings and has earned over $250,000 in prizemoney.
