Ben Allen is looking forward to reuniting with Fifty Stars when the five-year-old tackles a stellar field in the P B Lawrence Stakes.
The Irish-bred horse is the third favourite in Saturday’s Group Two PB Lawrence Stakes behind star mare Mystic Journey and Godolphin stalwart Hartnell.
Allen, who has won three races on the horse, two for trainer Darren Weir and one for Lindsay Park, admits Fifty Stars will peak later in his preparation when the blinkers go on but he will be without them on Saturday.
Fifty Stars is Allen’s solitary ride on Saturday.
“It’s a bit hard at this time of year trying to get rides but it’s good that I’m able to keep a partnership with a horse like him,” Allen said.
“He should run well first-up but he can be a bit lazy.
“He’s a different horse with the blinkers so I’m really looking forward to when they go on.
“Over the 1400 metres they might be a bit sharp for him but they’ve got the blinkers up their sleeve, ready for his grand final.”
Allen has ridden Fifty Stars in two Flemington jump-outs, once when he wore blinkers and once when he did not.
He said Fifty Stars was keen in his first hit-out in blinkers and more relaxed second time around.
“When Weiry had him he was the opposite to what he is now, quite a keen horse, so they did a lot of work getting him to settle,” Allen said.
“He’s settling really well now which isn’t a bad thing, but as soon as the blinkers go on, and as long as he doesn’t overdo it, there’s a big race in him.”
