Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
New Zealand-bred six-year-old Star Casino is certainly bred to be a star, and he looks assured of winning many more races.
Prepared by astute Mt Helena trainer Ray Williams, Star Casino ended a losing sequence of 17 when he began off the 50m mark and scored an easy win over 2631m at Pinjarra late last month, and he maintained his splendid form with a runaway victory over 2536m in the $21,000 Larkhill Vets Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was the $2.90 favourite from the No. 6 barrier and Aldo Coprtopassi did not bustle him early before sending him to the front after 450m. After modest opening quarters of 31.7sec. and 29.9sec. Star Casino dashed over the final 400m sections in 27.7sec. and 28.6sec. and won by three lengths from Dark Eyes ($8), with a half-length back to the fast-finishing Thelittle Master.
“I was confident once we got to the top,” said Cortopassi. “I didn’t rush him; I just let him get to the front over his own steam, and we were able to run a solid 1200m after that. He is tougher than he is given credit for. His run at Pinjarra showed he’s got a bottom to him.”
Star Casino is by champion sire Bettors Delight and is the eighth and last foal out of Christian Cullen mare Star Of Venus, who raced 23 times for two wins, six placings and $20,098 in stakes.
Star Of Venus has proved her worth as a broodmare, having also produced outstanding pacers Self Assured and Caviar Star.
Self Assured, an elder full-brother to Star Casino, amassed $2,410,066 in prizemoney from 30 wins and 33 placings from 74 starts. His Group 1 victories include the 2019 Queensland Derby, the 2019 and 2022 Auckland Cups, the 2020 New Zealand Cup and the 2021 Easter Cup at Addington and rich Free-For-Alls at Addington and Alexandra Park.
Caviar Star, trained by Gary Hall Snr, won the Fremantle Cup in January 2020 when he beat Vampiro by a head. He earned $362,582 from 14 wins and 15 placings from 49 starts.
Star Casino is destined for bigger and better things. He has raced 67 times for 12 wins and 15 placings for earnings of $168,743.