Written by Paul Vettise
There may not be much to Star Surprise (Sidereus), but trainer Michael Moroney is greatly taken by what there is and the diminutive youngster showed he was full of heart with a gallant victory at Caulfield.
The bargain buy sat close to the pace under rider Nikita Berriman and he wasn’t to be denied in the run home, accounting for the favourite Can’t Be Done (All Too Hard) in the Ladbrokes Odds Boost H.
It was a sweet victory for all concerned as Star Shower had finished runner-up behind Can’t Be Done in his Sale debut before going one better at Echuca.
“He probably should have been all but three out of three. At his first start he ran second to the favourite and made up a lot of ground,” Moroney said. “With weights and measures, if you believe in that, he was well in.”
Cheap purchase
Star Surprise was spotted by the eagle eye of Moroney’s brother Paul at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale and he didn’t have to dig deep to secure him for $8000.
“Probably his reserve was $7000 and it was the only bid,” Michael Moroney said. ”He’s not very big and he’s an early foal so we’ll just keep going with him.
“Nikita made a comment about him and said the reason why he’s been slow away is he’s that small that the first stride he takes is still inside the gates.”
Moroney said the initial plan with Star Surprise had to be revised after the gelding failed to cope with his first preparation.
“We tried to get him ready for the Magic Millions, but it was too big a task. He came to us unbroken at the end of June from that sale. I tried to push him through, but he went shin sore so we had to stop.”
Star Surprise was a $7000 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale purchase
Spring prospect
Moroney also believes Star Surprise can make an impact at a decent level next season.
“I think he can, especially in the spring. He’s got a lot of ability and he tries so hard, that’s a big asset,” he said.
Berriman has ridden Star Surprise in all three of his starts and is understandably forgiving for his lack of size.
“The first time I rode him I could see over his back and everybody knows I’m very small,” she said. “He is very small, but he has got a big heart
“The first time I rode him I could see over his back and everybody knows I’m very small.” – Nikita Berriman.
“He got a little bit lost in his first start and but for that I think he would have beaten Can’t Be Done in. He’s a nice horse going forward – he’s not big in stature, but he’s got a big heart.
“I galloped him during the week and I came here super confident.”
The effort of the runner-up Can’t Be Done was also full of merit as he had to concede the winner three kilos while Lady Loire (Not A Single Doubt) finished off well for third.
Avon River (Fastnet Rock) was next in ahead of Forever Loud (Domesday), who got clear late.
Nikita Berriman came into the race very confident
