Isti Star delivers on her potential to take out the rich Magic Millions National Classic on Friday night
Since starting his own training operation after more than a decade working with Waller, former Kiwi Shailer has enjoyed the backing of some powerful owners as he tries to build up his Gold Coast stable.
He enjoyed a major moment in his solo training career when $110,000 purchase Isti Star made the most of an inside barrier and the services of Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michael Rodd to land the $1m Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1000m) on the coast on Friday night.
While easing $2.70 favourite Prince Tycoon was slow away from a wide gate and had to make a searching run, Isti Star was sitting pretty near the lead and won in fine style.
There had been strong betting support for the filly which firmed from $11 to $7.50 in official fluctuations, beating the luckless Prince Tycoon while Secret Sort finished third at $41.
'I'm thrilled to bits and I'm so proud of this filly because she has been through a lot,' Shailer said.
'She was identified early on as a horse with immense talent.
'We thought we could win the Magic Millions with her, but it just went terribly wrong and she is a horse who suffers from allergies and she went shin sore.
'We just had to put her aside and be patient.'
Isti Star resumed this preparation in the Listed Calaway Gal but finished out of the placings after copping a rain-affected Eagle Farm track and a wide barrier.
She was then sent to an Ipswich provincial meeting for a confidence building win, smashing her opposition by more than five lengths.
Shailer is hoping the win is the start of good things to come for his stable.
He has Deep Focus as a $15 chance in next week's Group 1 Queensland Derby and is confident about his prospects after an eye-catching runner-up effort in the Rough Habit Plate after steaming home from the back of the field.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
a few seconds ago
- Perth Now
Boomers hit the heights to power into Asia Cup final
Australia have reached the Asia Cup final after extending their unbeaten run to five games with totally convincing 92-48 defeat of Iran at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah Victory set up a Sunday showdown with similarly undefeated 16-times champions China, who defeated New Zealand in their semi-final. For Australia, the result means a shot at a third straight Asia Cup title and an opportunity to keep their perfect record in the competition intact. Boomers star William Hickey, who was named player of the game, lavished praise on his teammates, saying: ""We are proud of how, down to the last man, we handled ourselves well. "If you can play defence, you can always win games. I'm proud of just everyone down the line contributing today." Every Boomers player got on the scoreboard in a performance that showcased depth, discipline and dominance. Jack McVeigh led the way with 17 points and three triples, while Harry Wessels had 16 points and Hickey chipped in 14 as Australia dominated proceedings in Saudi Arabia. Hickey added six rebounds and as many assists in an all-around display, while Wessels provided a steady defensive presence. Owen Foxwell set the tone early with steals and a key three-pointer, and Jack White delivered highlight-reel slams to keep the energy high. For Iran, Sina Vahedi top-scored with 11 points including two triples, while Mobin Sheikhi had eight points, four rebounds and three assists. Star forward Mohammad Amini was limited to just 2 points on 1-of-9 shooting as the Boomers' defence smothered his usual offensive spark. Australia weathered Iran's early punches in the first quarter, answering with back-to-back triples from McVeigh and Reyne Smith plus a technical foul free throw to close the period up 27-20. From there, the Boomers found another gear. The second quarter saw a 24-9 burst led by Foxwell's perimeter shooting and inside dominance from White, Will Magnay and Wessels, giving the Aussies a 51-29 halftime cushion. If the first half had Iran scrambling, the third quarter finished the job. McVeigh's quick five points, punishing runs from Hickey and Wessels, and relentless defensive pressure resulted in a staggering 29-8 frame that pushed the margin to 80-37. By the time Joshua Bannan's corner triple dropped, the game was long decided. The final quarter was about managing minutes and maintaining focus, with Wessels continuing to score inside and Australia's defense ensuring Iran never threatened. The Boomers' balanced attack, rim protection and transition efficiency proved too much for a young Team Melli still finding their identity after earlier comeback wins in the tournament.
News.com.au
9 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Ridiculous': Harvey Norman CEO issues challenge to Aussie sport fans
Every time posts about women's sport on social media there's always a chorus of the same predictable comments. No matter what feat the girls have achieved, somewhere, someone says some variation of: 'But the women's game isn't as good as the men's'. It's this sentiment that has trailblazing businesswoman Katie Page hot under the collar and driven her to issue a challenge to sporting fans across the country. 'If you follow the men, follow the women, if you're turning up to a game to watch the men play, turn up to watch the women play as well,' she told The Harvey Norman CEO, known as much for her financial commitment to promoting both women and sport as she is for boardroom success, describes commentary about the women's AFL being inferior quality as 'ridiculous'. 'It's so ridiculous when people talk about the women's game of AFL not being as good as the men's game, these women are elites,' Ms Page said. 'I love watching it. It should be on prime time TV. These women deserve more.' On the eve of her beloved AFLW Giants first game of the season this weekend she dared sports fans to give the women's game a go. 'I don't want to hear the negative. I'm not interested … How do you make the women's AFL great? You are there for both,' she said. 'How hard is this? You're sitting at home watching the guys, watch the women too. You go to a game, take your kids to a women's game too. 'How hard can this be if you love your AFL. You've got granddaughters, you've got sisters, you've got daughters, you've got grandmothers. They're all involved in this AFL family, so give them the same support. They are phenomenal elite athletes.' Ms Page, who loved athletics and playing basketball when she was growing up, said sport was about community. In a team meeting at the team's Homebush $55 million headquarters and training and rehabilitation facility this week she told the Giants: 'This is our hood'. 'Our office is still here, we haven't moved to Macquarie Street or anywhere else. Gerry (Harvey) and I insist that we're here because you never want to lose sight of what our country looks like or what our city looks like and it is very important to us that we support clubs like this, and we support people in western Sydney because this is where we started,' she said. 'We understand the western suburbs. We're not so removed now that we've got a $10 billion turnover, we are not removed. We employ 600 people running eight countries, from Homebush West. 'So again, it's not as if we've got to a certain stage and moved. We are here to support the community from the grassroots and give these elite athletes a platform. We are here for the long haul.' Harvey Norman have partnered with the AFLW Giants since the club's inception in 2015. They've renewed their commitment to the men's and women's Giants teams for 2026 and 2027. Ms Page baulks at suggestions the investment might not be worth the return. 'It is an absolute investment in the game. Why do people look at this as a cost, not an investment, right? It's a gross cost, not a net cost, for a start. 'It's a long-term investment in the grassroots community and in supporting women and giving them opportunities to thrive. 'That's what I love about sport. It's for everyone. It's sport, education, business, and it all comes together the three, it's not just one or the other. 'You look at these young women here at the Giants and they come from everywhere, and their common passion is they are elite sports people. 'There was nothing for women in this game when we started. They didn't even have their own change rooms, they didn't have their strength coaches, they couldn't use the gym. 'In the last week there's been a lot written about the AFL, the women's game, where they're playing, why aren't they getting better broadcast timeslots? Why are there no double headers with the men, all those kinds of things. 'This is not going to happen overnight and each sporting code has their own approach to how they're bringing women through … but in 10 years look how far they have come. Yes they've still got a long way to go.'
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Wallabies pull off miracle comeback win over Springboks
The Wallabies have pulled off a miraculous comeback to open the Rugby Championship in grand style with a famous 38-22 triumph over the world champion Springboks in South Africa. If this wasn't the Wallabies' greatest ever victory, it was most certainly their most improbable after Joe Schmidt's revitalised outfit recovered from 22-0 down in Johannesburg. With skipper Harry Wilson, fullback Tom Wright and veteran flyhalf James O'Connor starring, the Wallabies piled on four unanswered second-half tries to record Australia's first victory over the Springboks at altitude since 1963. The stirring success came at a cost, though, with heroic No.8 Wilson escorted off with a knee injury after touching down for his second try and winger Dylan Pietsch sustaining a suspected broken jaw. Minutes after crossing for Australia's opening try, Pietsch came off second best in a collision with Springboks captain Siya Kolisi. But the Wallabies will otherwise savour a truly incredible win at Ellis Park. The two-time defending world champion Springboks looked set to consign Australia's last-up victory over the British and Irish Lions to a distant memory when they raced out to their 22-0 lead inside 18 minutes. Winger Kurt-Lee Arendse bagged the opening try after just 94 seconds. Unable to cope with the home team's awesome skill and firepower, the Wallabies conceded a second when centre Andre Esterhuizen completed the slickest of raids in the 12th minute. Kolisi palmed off Fraser McReight at the back of a ruck to continue the better-than-a-point-a-minute scoring blitz with South Africa's third try before the Wallabies finally found their second wind. Pietsch put Australia on the board after 28 minutes when he finished off some nice lead-up work from O'Connor and centre Len Ikitau, who handled twice in the movement. Pietsch lasted only two more minutes before his head caught the shoulder of Kolisi while trying to stop South Africa's rampaging No.8. Trailing 22-5 at the break, the Wallabies needed something special to conjure a famous victory. Angus Bell delivered first, the replacement prop's deft short putting skipper Harry Wilson over two minutes into the second half before Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii intercepted a cut-out pass from Springboks flyhalf Manie Libbok to pull the Wallabies within three points of the hosts. Then the unthinkable happened. The Wallabies hit the lead for the first time when Wright broke free from inside his own half to put Wilson over for his second try to give the Wallabies a shock lead. Playing his first Test since 2022 and some 17 years after debuting, O'Connor found Max Jorgensen with a beautiful left-to-right long ball before the winger did the rest in another magical long-range strike for Australia. Turning defence into scintillating attack, Wright sped 80 metres to score the game sealer with five minutes remaining, leaving South African fans silently shellshocked.
