Trainer Shane Nichols (Image: Racing Photos)
Mornington trainer Shane Nichols is confident two-year-old Tahitian Dancer is a strong chance to break her maiden in Saturday's opening race at Moonee Valley.
Nichols hinted the lightly-raced filly's impressive debut performance might have slipped under the radar a bit, with the son of Black Caviar dominating headlines despite the filly finishing one position ahead of the much-hyped colt.
"Look it takes a bit of the pressure away when Prince Of Caviar runs fourth in the race and that's the only horse they want to talk about," said Nichols.
"She was really good at Sandown, I think often a filly against the boys, first run in a race, to be competitive in Saturday-grade, considering that there's probably improvement to come was really pleasing.
"I think she's trained on really well, work's been good, happy enough."
WATCH: Tahitian Dancer's debut 1 26518
The daughter of Dawn Approach races back against her own sex at The Valley and while Nichols admitted she didn't begin cleanly on debut, he cited her strong work to the line as a key factor in her chance of breaking her maiden at her second race start.
"I think there's enough speed that we should get a nice trail," he said.
"These are two-year-olds, we don't get too pre-conceived with pre-race tactics, it will just be where she's happy, where she travels sweet and hopefully we get a run."
But while Tahitian Dancer is just beginning her career for the Mornington trainer, he confirmed his already proven Group 1 winner I Am A Star is back in work, having not raced since last spring.
The rising five-year-old returned to the stable earlier this month after being given an extended break to heal from a number of minor injuries.
"In the autumn we had a few little issues, she developed a splint and a bit of back pain, just minor things but it kept delaying our program," said Nichols.
"We were sort of going to go to the Sangster first-up and then I wasn't going to get a clean run towards there with the preparation because I had to compensate a little bit and when you're at the top level you can't afford to do that.
"So we just sent her to the paddock, gave her a good break and she's come back in and I'm so pleased that we did that because she's sound and in a very good place."
Nichols confirmed he will continue to target set-weight mares races with the star daughter of I Am Invincible in the spring.
"There's the Sunline at The Valley, the Myer, obviously those sort of races," Nichols said.
"She'll be a live chance in whatever she runs in."