Star Ready to Hit his Peak Over Pet Distance

Wulguru trainer Graham Hughes is confident smart sprinter Family Star is ready to peak for his open company assignment at Cluden Park tomorrow.

Family Star has been placed in two of his three starts this preparation and will be cherry ripe for the Carlton & United Breweries Open Hcp (1200m) from barrier 3 according to Hughes.

“He’s just taken a little while to come to hand, but he’s had the three runs and I think he’ll be hard to beat,” Hughes said.

“When he came back from a spell he got a foot abscess and I had to be a bit kinder to him than I normally would have been and then he’s taken the three runs.

“He got beaten less than a length at his last run from 10 alley and he had them covered at the furlong and paddled just the last little bit. But I think he’ll be right this week.

“The good alley (3) is a big help. Drawing 10 you have to use up, make a run and then keep going. He should get a soft run and be right in it.”

Family Star’s seven career wins have all been at Cluden, and significantly he has chalked up four victories from seven starts over tomorrow’s 1200m trip.

The six-year-old Bel Esprit gelding scored his biggest win when taking out the $50,000 consolation to the Cleveland Bay Hcp at last year’s carnival.

This time-in he was placed at his first two runs back over an unsuitable 1000m before finishing a close fourth to Bold Kingston over 1300m on February 21.

As well as a dropping back to his pet distance of 1200m, Family Star will be reunited with regular rider Justin Stanley.

They will take on a small but quality field that includes talented Rockhampton galloper Plenty and the resuming Dio D’oro who sprung a surprise win first-up last preparation.

Hughes will have a busy day with a team of seven starters and while Family Star is shaping as his leading hope, he gives Harmonic Boom (Cluden Park Mdn Hcp 1200m), Right Bower (St Patrick’s Day 0-55 Hcp) and Super Fast (Mitavite Cl3 Plate) solid chances despite mixed luck with barrier draws.

Premier jockey Lacey Morrison has been booked for Harmonic Boom and Right Bower while Stanley will ride Super Fast, Family Star’s half-brother.

“Right Bower ran a good third last time to a horse that is pretty good. Lacey said he just kept whacking away and might be suited ridden a bit closer to the pace and from one alley we should be able to do that,” Hughes said.

“I think Harmonic Boom is promising but he’s green and I think he resents the whip. I’ve got Lacey on him - she’s a left hand whip rider - to see if we can keep him from running out.

“His two runs have been good but both times he had a right hand whip rider and ran out and finished very wide in the straight. Hopefully he’ll go straighter for Lacey but the alley doesn’t help.

“Super Fast is in a very strong race. He’s going well but it’ll be tough from 14 alley over the 1000m.”

The eight even card kicks off with the Brown Brothers QTIS 2YO Mdn Hcp (1000m) at 12.57pm.

Pictured: Family Star and jockey Justin Stanley record a big win at last year's Cluden carnival.

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.