Joan Bullock Memorial Thursday 18th February 2016 by Julie Maughan

Will Star Mara be as good as her mum? Well the writing is on the wall to say yes with full confidence.

The four year old mare is every owner and trainers dream – qualify one week and win a feature race the next!

“It is always a nice pleasant surprise to win but I was confident” said Sawyer’s Gully trainer Paul Collins who was recounting the win of Star Mara in the $8000 Joan Bullock Memorial race at Tamworth last week.

Not only does the Lis Mara USA-Surfing Star mare have the enviable one start one win citation but she also broke the 2 min mark when she clocked 1.59.6 for 1980 metres.

“I got her when she was a three year old and broke her in. She was a handful to start with. The mother won a fair few races”

The dam, Surfing Star won 16 races with 23 placings for Greg Harris and Ross Chisholm who raced the late Surfing Star and bred Star Mara – the only foal out of Surfing Star.

Surfing Star had four wins at Harold Park.

“She is a beautiful going horse” said Collins “and Aaron drove her a treat”.

Not only was Star Mara having her first career start but it was also the first time Hunter Valley reinsman Aaron Garaty had sat behind the bay mare.

“They told me they only qualified her last week at Newcastle trials but she seems to have a bit of ability” said Garaty.

“She felt good coming out of the gate and then I crossed the field” added Garaty with Star Mara commencing from the three barrier.

After crossing the field Garaty then handed the lead up to race favourite Gottaluva Sunday (Mitch Faulkner) with Calypso Shannon (Jess Prior) racing out in the breeze.

Star Mara was pocketed in behind the leader.

Racing into the final bend Garaty pulled Star Mara out and extended the challenge to Gottaluva Sunday in the home straight before coming away for the win.

“She still had something left” added Garaty of Star Mara “she wasn’t extended and she only had to do what she had to do”

“She should have a future for sure. They must have an opinion of her as she is 4 year old and this is her first start “

Star Mara had a 2.6 metre win over Gottaluva Sunday and Schwartz Denario (Tom Ison) 5.6 metres away third and paid $12.60 for the win.

“I thought she could win it because she is going so well” added Collins “She is a real racehorse when she gets on the track”

Paul Collins knows the Tamworth track well having driven winners there himself and hailing from the township of Warialda in northern NSW before deciding to set up base at Cessnock just over 25 years ago.

“I moved here (Cessnock) the week of the earthquake in Newcastle and thought what have I done”

“I have had a few wins at Tamworth and started off with Leon Cross”

Winning the Joan Bullock Memorial straight up was of consequence for Paul Collins.

“It is a good race and it has been going for a while now”

Julie Maughan