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By Tony Megahey

Emerging talents for Kristen Buchanan confront their next test into the Muswellbrook TAB meeting on Friday where the Wyong Group-winning trainer has a strong say in proceedings with three runners.

Significantly, Kristen’s speedy dual-winning mare Takara Star ($2.40 favourite on TAB) has been scratched twice from winnable races on her home track recently to be kept for Muswellbrook.

Takara Star (Ashley Morgan) in winning form at Muswellbrook. Image by Bradley Photographers

“We’ve purposely kept her away from heavy tracks, been patient, she’s a lovely progressive mare, wants the firmer going,” Kristen explained as the striking Stratum Star chestnut comes off a dominant recent Muswellbrook 1280m double in slick times.

Takara Star contests the Godolphin Tiara BM 74 Showcase (1450m) with 55kg for Jean Van Overmeire while her promising two-year-old colt Chevron ($2.30 fav) and four-race winner Big Happiness ($31), returned from Hong Kong, are in later races.

“Really looking forward to the day as I ride Takara Star some work, every confidence she’ll cope out in distance off those 1280’s - she did win with something in hand,” offered the former teenage champion equestrian rider who won the 2016 Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at Royal Randwick with Two Blues.

Takara Star, a natural speedster, is guaranteed to lead or be second with an attractive weight drop from 59kg in her BM 58 win into a tougher BM 74.

It’s a race of depth with Maly Malt ($6) winning successive regional races impressively for Sue Grills and primed to resume from a spell with an Armidale Open trial win in slick time.

Kristen’s Chevron, a 2yo-old Speith colt, has the benefit of race experience after contesting city Group age races into the Scone Equine Hospital Star Kingdom 2yo, 1000m.

“He does go well, a beautiful colt; forward off a Randwick trial after a Canterbury placing and the plan is the Inglis Classic at Scone if he progresses the way we anticipate.”

Last prep Chevron significantly ran a creditable fourth in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes behind Red Resistance who was then prominent in Golden Slipper markets. Chevron then placed at Canterbury Park.

Four-race winner Big Happiness failed to adapt in Hong Kong and is fitter for recent runs in town for Kristen in the Muswellbrook RSL Lone Pine Charge (1000m).

“I trained him originally in 2021, he won three in a row for me really impressively at Muswellbrook and obviously didn’t adapt in Hong Kong.

"Often happens, obviously completely different conditions.”

Big Happiness found form again winning at Gosford in January. At present Muswellbrook is a Good 4 in fine weather.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Muswellbrook here