Sian Star to put Hansen back in winner's stall

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Darryl Hansen will head to Ipswich on Thursday confident his sole runner Sian Star can end a month’s long absence from the winner’s list.

The Caloundra conditioner has a team of 24 horses in work but hasn’t been in the winner’s stall since Prince Of Sooview was successful at Gatton on October 1.

“I’ve had a lot of placings of late and I’ve been busy with a lot of good babies coming through who are getting ready to race,” Hansen said.

Hansen has been one of the Sunshine Coast’s top trainers for many years and regards Monsieur Gustave as one of the many good horses he’s trained.

“Monsieur Gustave was a very good horse who won the Eye Liner, George Moore, Keith Noud and Glasshouse Handicaps in one campaign,” Hansen said.

Hansen has been relatively quiet since those days seven years ago but remains a strong force whenever he heads to Central and North Queensland each winter.

While he didn’t venture north this year, Hansen has won a host of the North Queensland features and has high hopes Sian Star can earn a trip away next year.

Sian Star will be ridden by apprentice Jai Williams when he tackles the Class 4 Handicap at his third run this campaign.

The five-year-old is coming off a last start second to Dream Lantern in a similar 1350 metre Class 4 Handicap at Ipswich on October 24.

“He loves Ipswich and I’ve booked Jai Williams to ride him as he’s got a good record on him with three wins and a second from four rides,” Hansen said.

“I was going to run him at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday but I think he’d get too much weight there so I decided to go to Ipswich.”

Hansen’s major concern for Sian Star is he fears 1350 metres may be too short for his third run in.

“He’s one of the most consistent horses around but he’s looking for 1600 metres,” Hansen said.

“The older he gets the better he’ll be, so I’ll probably give him a break after this or give him one more run.

“I want to take him through his grades and hopefully he’ll make a nice northern Cups horse next year.”