Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Exactly nine years ago on November 29, 2015, Galactic Star won at his second start in a race, as the $2.30 favourite from barrier two in a 2200m event at Invercargill, and the evergreen equine marvel is still competing with admirable verve.
At Gloucester Park on Friday night, on November 29, 2024, the 11-year-old Galactic Star was a $4.50 chance when Dylan Egerton-Green drove him to an impressive victory in the $25,000 Ascot Group WA Pace.
This was a most fitting result on the same night as his Greg and Skye Bond-trained stablemate Minstrel won the opening heat of the Interdominion Championship at Newcastle in New South Wales, considering that Galactic Star has an imposing record in Interdominion Championships.
Galactic Star contested the championship series in WA in 2017 and in Victoria the following year when in 2017 he won a 2100m heat at Bunbury’s Donaldson Park, beating Yayas Hot Spot and Lennytheshark, and was fifth in the final at Gloucester Park, finishing behind Lazarus, Chicago Bull, Tiger Tara and Vultan Tin.
In December 2018 Galactic Star was a most unlucky sixth behind Tiger Tara in the Inters final at Melton when he began from the No. 1 barrier and was third after 100m before meeting with severe interference and galloping back to last.
This followed Galactic Star’s win over San Carlo in a 2240m qualifying heat at Melton, his second to Spankem in a 2550m heat at Cranbourne and his third behind Cruz Bromac in a 1710m heat at Ballarat.
Galactic Star, who finished second to Chicago Bull in the 2020 Fremantle Cup, has proved to be an outstanding bargain for his owners, Team Bond, and Rob Gartrell’s Running Camel Pty Ltd.
After racing 13 times in New Zealand for four wins, seven placings and $25,848, Galactic Star was sold to his WA owners for less than $50,000. His record now stands at 159 starts for 37 wins and 45 placings for $853,540.
Galactic Star has been a versatile performer throughout his distinguished career, setting the pace and winning many times, as well as racing with a sit and unwinding a powerful late burst.
When he won at Invercargill on November 29, 2015, Galactic Star was ninth at the bell before finishing powerfully to win from Better Go Hurry at a 2.1.1 rate.
At Gloucester Park on Friday night Galactic Star enjoyed a perfect sit behind the pacemaker Jaspervellabeach before he finished fast in the home straight to get up and win convincingly from the $2.30 favourite Hampton Banner, who had taken the lead 220m from home after racing without cover all the way. Jaspervellabeach held on to finish third.
Galactic Star was driven by Dylan Egerton-Green, who said that the old gelding was a perfect horse to drive. “He does everything right, and trailing the leader was ideal when no-one else wanted to be on the fence,” he said. Egerton-Green has handled Galactic Star (who ended a losing sequence of eleven) 19 times for two wins, four seconds and three thirds.
Galactic Star is by champion stallion Bettors Delight and is out of the Christian Cullen mare Petra’s Star, who raced 14 times in New Zealand for three wins, two placings and $26,739.