Falling Starzzz due for a change of luck

Falling Starzzz has been unlucky when second at her past two starts and she is ready to break through for her first win at her fifth start after drawing the coveted No. 1 barrier in the Book Your Perth Interdominion Hospitality Packages Now Pace for harness racing three-year-old Westbred fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.       

A win would give Capel trainer-reinsman Ash Markham a welcome change of fortune in the city, with his most recent Gloucester Park success on a Friday night being when he landed a double with Dredlock Rockstar and Mon Lillies on April 15.

Falling Starzzz raced in eighth position before finishing fast to be a half-head second to Hy Fyfe over 2185m at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon. At her previous outing, over 2130m at Gloucester Park the previous Monday, she raced behind the pacemaker Trubluwaussie and was hampered for clear room in the home straight when a close second to Hoylakes Next Lady.

“She was terribly unlucky at Pinjarra on Monday when a gear malfunction probably cost her victory,” Markham said. “The head check clip broke about 400 to 500m from home and she’s definitely a horse who needs all her gear to remain intact.

“She’s got a pretty high head check and she really does need it for her balance. She has had only four starts and is still learning what it’s all about. She’s been a work in progress, but is getting better and has definitely got wins ahead of her.

“Falling Starzzz has yet to lead in a race, but she led in a trial quite a while ago. She has reasonable gate speed and we’ll be trying to hold up. We’ll be rolling the dice to get the job done.”

Falling Starzzz who is by Four Starzzz Shark was bred and is owned by Dean and Reece Kaptein, of Busselton, and is closely related to several winners, including former top-flight performer Beefy T, whose wins included the 1995 Golden Nugget at Gloucester Park and the 1996 Chariots of Fire at Harold Park. He also finished third behind Norms Daughter and Il Vicolo in the 1996 Miracle Mile at Harold Park.

The Kapteins also own Im Bella Jay, who has earned $186,709 from nine wins and 11 placings from 44 starts. Her wins included the group 1 Westbred Classics for two-year-old fillies and three-year-old fillies in 2013 and 2014.

Chief rivals for Falling Starzzz appear to be Delightful Days (a Bunbury winner in June and placed twice at Narrogin later in that month), Bettor Bling (a winner twice as a two-year-old, but placed only once from 12 starts as a three-year-old), Melimac and Gunna Get Lucky.

Ken Casellas