Each racing campaign has brought further enhancement, and trainer John Moloney anticipates a bit more progress from Hearcomesthestar as she prepares to compete at Flemington.
Hearcomesthestar has secured six victories from 28 outings, along with eight additional placings, yet she has not quite measured up in Stakes company.
This six-year-old mare boasts one Listed placing from earlier this year at Geelong, and Moloney is optimistic that Hearcomesthestar might secure a Black Type success in the Listed Straight Six (1200m) this Saturday.
Moloney previously claimed the Straight Six back in 2005 with Songs Of Vienna, a mare who shared similarities with Hearcomesthestar.
“I won this race with Songs Of Vienna and she was there at the right time,” Moloney said.
“So, it’s probably not a bad race to go after with this mare, especially as The Goodwood was run last week in Adelaide where all the good sprinters went around.
“It’s a chance race for a horse like her to get some Black Type.”
Hearcomesthestar triumphed on her debut at Sandown in May 2023 and has tackled Stakes events annually since then, typically ending up in the midfield.
However, Moloney has observed consistent advancement in Hearcomesthestar as she has developed greater strength and maturity.
Moloney has frequently witnessed this pattern in mares such as Bella Nipotina, Black Caviar, Pride Of Jenni, and Via Sistina, who all improved over time.
“She has steadily got better from prep to prep to where she is now,” Moloney said.
“A little bit stronger, a little bit better, not by big margins but just each time she has come back into training there has been improvement, so to take on some Black Type racing, as we are on Saturday, it’s worthwhile.
“I’m not saying we’re Bella Nipotina or Via Sistina, or mares like that, but they seemed to get better with age.
“They trained on, so it’s amazing, that if they are looked after, they can keep producing pretty good runs.
“Here’s hoping she can keep finding that little bit extra for these types of races.”
Moloney drew encouragement from Hearcomesthestar’s initial run back at Bendigo, where she charged late from the rear to claim third behind Stoli Bolli.
“It was fantastic,” Moloney said.
“The way she got home from the back, to make up that ground with 59 (kilos) on her back.
“We’re meeting the winner again, Stoli Bolli, and I would like to think that wherever it finishes, we won’t be far away again with reasonable luck.”
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