West Star notched his second black-type victory this season despite covering extra ground in the G3 Northam Stakes (1300m) on Sunday.

The progressive 3yo son of Playing God had won the LR Belgravia Stakes (1200m) at Ascot during a spring prep for trainer Simon Miller and the Avon Valley feature sprint saw him back on track after finishing down the track in The Quokka (1200m) last month.

Miller’s stable representative advised stewards West Star would be ridden midfield or worse with cover if possible from an outside barrier.  As it turned out, jockey Lucy Fiore couldn’t find a trail and elected go forward three-wide before he found again in the straight.

West Star went out a well-backed $2.30 favourite and looked a class above his older rivals to score by two lengths from Magnificent Andy (Magnus) and Comfort Me (Playing God).

Miller bought him for $175,000 from the Western Breeders Alliance consignment to the 2023 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale and Sunday’s win sent his earnings through $700,000 including Westspeed Bonuses of $172,000 for a syndicate managed by Dave Harris.

He was bred by Darling View Thoroughbreds director Clive Atwell and is the final foal from Jester Derriere (Patronize) who is a half-sister to RL Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) winner The River (Magnus).

West Star is fulfilling the potential that Miller promised following the Belgravia Stakes.  “He’s a high-class horse and is bulletproof.  He can go forward or back and we haven’t figured out whether he’s a sprinter or miler.”

He can full both bases if successful at weight-for-age in the G3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m) at Belmont on June 7.

Miller was in Sydney last week for his annual foray into the foal market at the Inglis Weanling Sale where he purchased five babies topped by the $70,000 Pierata filly from Brand New Choice (Redoute’s Choice).  The dam was a Moonee Valley 2yo winner and is a three-quarter sister to Not A Single Doubt.