Rising star West Star lived up to his name on Sunday, delivering a dominant win in the Group 3 Northam Stakes (1300m) to confirm his status as one of Western Australia’s most exciting three-year-olds.

The Simon Miller-trained gelding overcame a wide run and minimal cover, yet proved far too strong when asked for an effort, charging clear under jockey Lucy Fiore to defeat Magnificent Andy by 1¾ lengths. Comfort Me filled third in another consistent stakes showing.

It was a powerful bounce-back performance from West Star, who had previously finished seventh in the Quokka (1200m) — far from disgraced in that $5 million slot race as the only three-year-old in the field.

“He is lovely, and we definitely won that one on class alone,” Fiore said. “I was kinda not worried when I was three deep… he was able to free roll and come off in the middle. When I said go at the 250m, he put them away.”

The win came just 24 hours after Fiore’s solid Group 1 showing on Generosity in the Goodwood (1200m) in Adelaide, making it a standout weekend for the talented jockey.

West Star has now won five of his eight starts and placed in two others, with the Quokka marking the only time he’s finished outside the top three. A son of Playing God, he also took out the Listed Belgravia Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in October.

Originally purchased for $175,000 at the Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale, West Star’s earnings have now surpassed $700,000, thanks to prize money and bonuses.

The victory was trainer Simon Miller’s second in the Northam Stakes, following First Among Equals in 2017, and he hinted that both West Star and Generosity are likely to head east for a Melbourne spring campaign later this year.

With his form and profile on the rise, West Star is a galloper to watch as futures markets begin to shape. Punters can track his journey and upcoming targets on leading betting sites for the best odds and promotions.