An initial entry provided by Philip Tyndall.

A Spring Preparation
Speccy has now been back at the Caulfield stables for a few months and she has settled back into life as a city racehorse. She is well cared for by her strapper Steve, a young jovial Irishman. Speccy’s stall is alongside stable-mate Testa Reale, who reportedly enjoys her company, but sometimes frets when Speccy goes off for her daily routine. She has gradually been getting stronger doing track work and swimming. As a result she has not only continued to grow generally, but has also noticeably developed in the shoulder.
About six weeks ago she had her first barrier trial (in order to gain her Barrier Certificate, a requirement before going to the races). In the following weeks she had two more trials, with the aim of improving her barrier skills and teaching her to race with other horses. Finally a few weeks ago, her trainer Tony decided she was ready to go to the races. Rather than rush her into city-class races in the midst of the best 3 year-old fillies around, it was decided to give her time to learn her race craft in the bush.

A Debut Win
Speccy had her first race-start almost two weeks ago in a Maiden race at Geelong. The race was over 1235m for 3 year-olds fillies and many of the field were having their first race start. Unfortunately she drew the outside barrier, seemingly reducing her chances. Nevertheless she was still put up and remained as the favourite with the bookies and the tote. The stable staff thought she was a place chance as best.
At the starting-stalls before the race she played up a little and hesitated before going into her gate. When the starter let the field go she jumped out two lengths behind the field, but her jockey Nash Rawiller (who only a few months before had been riding Elvstroem against the best in the world in Dubai and Europe) didn’t panic and let her relax. In a few strides she caught the rest of the field, and quickly began to pass them out wide and going around the home-turn. Although she had her head side-on for most of the way around the turn and for half way down the straight, she cleared away and still won the race easily by a length and a half. The win came courtesy of a lovely patient ride by jockey Nash Rawiller.
I hope this will be the beginning of another great partnership between horse and rider. Speccy showed she still has much to learn but it was a promising start to her racing career and The Starspect Story.