Sydneysider, Shiraz, having his first Melbourne start, had no difficulty with the straight track, or the inside draw, in winning the Aurie’s Star Handicap, at Flemington.

The straight six can prove a graveyard for horses coming from Sydney, they have to cope with the reverse way of going, and the straight track can be the down fall for a first time visitor.

Shiraz handled it like a veteran, with the ideal barrier, and the aid of Damian Oliver at his best, punters had no concern, they sent the gelding out a pronounced favourite.

Since he became a resident of the Tony McEvoy stable, Shiraz has the complete score sheet, three wins from three starts.

Shiraz winning the Aurie's Star

The next assignment is the Bobby Lewis Handicap, also at Flemington down the straight six, named in honour of a great jockey who rode four Melbourne Cup winners.

Shiraz was bred out in the west of New South Wales, at Dubbo, where he was trained by Peter Nestor, it didn’t take him long to realise the gelding had a lot of potential and would be better being off being trained closer to Sydney.

Nestor suggested that Tony McEvoy could give the horse a better opportunity than he could, because of the travelling factor, hence the reason he is now trained by Tony and not Peter.

Aurie’s Star, by Star Drift from Aurie Anton, held the 6 furlong record at Flemington, (before the introduction of metrics), he won the Newmarket Handicap, Oakleigh Plate twice, and the Goodwood Handicap.

Winning rider Damian Oliver