By Glenn Davis
Caloundra trainer Stu Kendrick has ambitious plans for talented three-year-old Star Of Michelin but the $300,000 QTIS Jewel at the Gold Coast in March may not be on his agenda.
Star Of Michelin makes his comeback in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday which Kendrick expects will point him towards the Brisbane winter carnival.
Star Of Michelin has won two of his four starts but hasn’t raced since finishing fourth against his own age over 1600 metres at Eagle Farm in mid-August.
“He had a decent spell and he’s been back in solid work for 12 weeks now,” Kendrick said.
“He’s a monster of a horse and if he comes back well a race like the Queensland Guineas during the winter looks the perfect race for him.
“He’s a QTIS horse so he’s eligible for The Jewel which is only over 1200 metres so I’ll see how he’s going after this run before deciding if we’ll aim for that.
“But I really think he’ll be looking for more ground and if he comes up, we’ll look at the winter with him.”
Kendrick has given Star Of Michelin a solid grounding to prepare for his return.
“He’s going well and had a jump out and trial recently,” he said.
“He did well during his break and he’s matured well.
“I’ve given him plenty of work and Steph Thornton will ride him.”
Star Of Michelin was bred by the late Ross Cutts, best known as the owner-breeder of former Group 1 winner and champion sire Show A Heart.
Cutts, 78, died in Brisbane last October following heart surgery complications.
Star Of Michelin’s dam Conca Bella was unraced but was by Show A Heart out of the mare Wabble, making her a full sister to Rob Heathcote’s 2012 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winner, Wabble.
Show A Heart won the Group 1 T J Smith at Eagle Farm in 2000 before later claiming the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas the same year.
He went on to win the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Flemington in 2001 before the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in his final appearance in 2002.
Show A Heart later stood at Glenlogan Park where he became one of the State’s champion sires for many seasons after his racetrack career ended with six wins and $2.3 million in prizemoney.
Racing Queensland webnews January 29