Lindsay Park co-trainer Ben Hayes credited an important gear change and a jockey change for Tycoon Star’s recent Morphettville victory.
Now the Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes are hoping to parlay that success into a Group 1 victory when Tycoon Star heads to The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Visors were added to Tycoon Star’s race day gear again at Morphettville last start, but the engagement of James McDonald was also an important factor.
“I think the visors did the trick,” Ben Hayes said.
“It was a tough win also as he sat wide throughout and he won quite nicely, but I also got a big kick out of James riding his first winner in South Australia.”
Tycoon Star was McDonald’s first win in South Australia, and later that day he went on to claim the Group 1 Australasian Oaks aboard the Chris Waller-trainer Panova.
The visors remain on Tycoon Star for The Goodwood, but unfortunately McDonald is Gold Coast bound for the Hollindale Stakes meeting and Luke Currie takes over in the saddle.
Tycoon Star has not fared well in the barrier draw, drawing the extreme outside gate of 16.
But recent history in The Goodwood points to three-year-olds running well, especially those to have won the Tobin Bronze Stakes (1200m) as Tycoon Star did last start.
Reserve Bank (2025) and Royal Merchant (2023) are three-year-olds to have completed the double in recent years.
“An interesting stat about him, he’s never not run in a Stakes race,” Hayes said.
“He’s been a very good horse, for a long time, running against the best and he’s always been thereabouts.
“We purposely held him back from the early autumn to target this race and hopefully it can all align and he can run well.”
Hayes said while a win is always good for a horse’s confidence, so is a change of scenery.
Tycoon Star has remained in Adelaide since his latest win and Hayes said he had thrived.
“Ash, who has been looking after him, said he has been bright and well and really enjoying it,” Hayes said.
“We’re really excited and think he’s a genuine chance.
“If he can win that race, he’s got a pretty good (breeding) page behind him, and being Group 1 placed and a Stakes winner as a two-year-old, you never know.
“He’s racing for his future (as a Yulong stallion), but three-year-olds in the Goodwood have a good record.”
