While disappointed that Fifty Stars was unable to become the first three-time winner of the Blamey Stakes at Flemington, Lindsay Park remains confident the imported galloper can give the stable a fourth straight win in the Australian Cup.
Fifty Stars, successful in last year’s Australian Cup, was ridden by John Allen when second to Star Of The Seas in Saturday’s Blamey Stakes (1600m) having won the previous two editions of the Group 2 race.
However, the performance was enough for TAB to elevate Fifty Stars to the top of the market at $4.50 for Saturday’s Group 1 feature over 2000m at Flemington.
Co-trainer Ben Hayes, who prepares Fifty Stars in partnership with his cousin Tom Dabernig, said while disappointed the entire was unable to win, the performance showed the galloper had bounced back from his first-up run when seventh to Colette in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes at Randwick on February 13.
“I actually think it was a better run than last year,” Hayes said.
“He had to put up a big, searching run. He was very genuine as he was under pressure a long way out.
“It’s funny, he’s like that in training. He’s very lazy and can be hard to get a line on.
“Johnny had to give him a whack at the 600 (metres), which woke him up, and he was fantastic to the line.
“He’s backed up before and we’re very confident that he’s on track again.”
Fifty Stars defeated Regal Power in last year’s Australian Cup which followed successive wins by Harlem in 2018 and 2019.
Harlem runs in the Australian Cup for the fourth time, he finished fourth last year, and is currently a $21 chance.
For good measure Lindsay Park also won the Australian Cup with Spillway in 2015.
Written by Craig Brennan
