Rising star has too much gas for Vespa

STAR O’Fraaj claimed a big scalp at Otaki yesterday.

The Whanganui filly beat Group I-winning colt Vespa in a three-horse contest.

The victory set up a rematch with Vespa, for bigger money, in the $100,000 Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham next month.

‘‘That [Guineas] should be ideal,’’ trainer Evan Rayner said.

Though Rayner had not been confident of beating Vespa, he has a high opinion of Star O’Fraaj.

‘‘She’s a very good filly. She was sore in the knees after she won here at her previous start and we had to spell her,’’ Rayner said. ‘‘If it hadn’t been for that setback, she would have been racing against the good fillies.

‘‘She has also needed a bit of time and is probably going to be better with the sting out of the track. I think she will be a smart filly up to 1600m.’’

The Iffraaj filly races in the Fairdale Stud colours and has now had two wins from just four attempts.

Rider Johnathon Parkes was also impressed.

‘‘I hadn’t been on her till she had a jumpout the other day and she gave me a really nice feel. She’s a nice strong type and I’m sure she will go on with it,’’ he said. ‘‘I had expected Vespa to kick better but I thought we had him covered 200m out.’’

Vespa never established a significant break in the straight.

‘‘He has got gears but he got into first and stayed there,’’ said rider Nivesh Teeluck, who claimed 3kg. ‘‘He didn’t let down.’’ Vespa was having his first run since the Melbourne spring carnival and trainer Johno Benner was looking on the bright side.

‘‘He will improve a lot with that,’’ Benner said. ‘‘Nivesh might have sat a bit long too and he was coming back on the line.

‘‘He will be right and will go on to the Guineas [on March 14].’’