By David Nagel
A trip to Sydney might be next on the cards for exciting three-year-old prospect Nostringsattached after a withering finish claimed the $300,000 Future Stars Series Final (1400m) at Pakenham on Thursday night.
Beautifully named – by Extreme Choice/Come On Over – the colt was also entered for Saturday’s $1m Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington; but was second emergency after acceptances.
Trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young decided to bite the bullet and run in the feature race at Pakenham and remove the possibility of missing out on both races.
But a trip north now awaits after gun-jockey Blake Shinn gave his mount the perfect economical run.
Shinn quickly found the fence from gate six, not going around a horse until the 11-horse field turned for home, before extricating himself at the 400.
Nostringsattached took time to unwind, but gobbled up the leaders over the concluding stages to race clear for a three-quarter length win on the line.
Cranbourne-trained horses filled the top four placings with Nostringsattached defeating Astral Flame (Enver Jusufovic), Yachiyo (Mick Price/Michael Kent Jnr) and Chest Of Gold (Julius Sandhu) in the race to the wire.
Pakenham-trained Gala Queen was the eye-catching run of the race, flying home for fifth for Joe Bowditch and trainer Phillip Stokes.
Young was full of smiles and enthusiasm after claiming the $165,000 first prize.
“It’s awesome prizemoney and now he’s won three on the trot,” Young enthused.
“Half way up the straight I didn’t think he was going to get out in time, but when he actually balanced up, he really extended.
“He’s got a great will to win this horse and obviously Blake (Shinn) rode him a treat and he was strong enough to the line.”
Young said Nostringsattached, who has now won three of his five career starts, was unlikely to gain a run in the Guineas.
“It was very unlikely there would be two scratchings in the Guineas, so we had to roll that dice,” she said.
“But you never know, hopefully he pulls up well and we’ll look forward to see where we can take him.
“The Randwick Guineas might come up a bit quick (March 8); but there’s races like the Carbine in Sydney and things like that; so, we’ll just pick a path for him and hopefully carry on that winning streak.”
Shinn became emotional earlier in the night after riding the Michael Moroney/Glen Thompson-trained Burlington Gate to victory in race five on the card.
Moroney died in his sleep on Thursday, after battling serious illness last year.
Shinn said the win meant a lot more than most; given his relationship with Moroney over the years.
“Yes, a lot more than others,” Shinn said post-race.
“I got a very similar feeling to when Guy Walter passed away because Mike and I; we’ve formed a great relationship, and friendship, and he’s just great to ride for, he’s so kind and loyal, and everything you could ask for when riding for a trainer.
“It’s just a tragic loss for the industry; he’s whole stable, family, and we’re all mourning his loss.
“He’s going to leave an indelible legacy on the game.”
Moroney died aged 66.
