Ben Hayes believes Tycoon Star’s performance in the Todman Stakes has him perfectly placed to deliver Lindsay Park its first Golden Slipper Stakes victory in nearly 20 years.
“He will improve out of sight from that experience,” Hayes predicted on Monday.
“He pulled up fantastic and is right on track for the Slipper. We will be going into the race confident he can do it.”
Tycoon Star finished just over a length behind Golden Slipper favourites Tentyris and Wodeton in the Todman Stakes, looming as a serious threat inside the final 200 metres before shifting out under Jordan Childs and losing momentum.
“He actually didn’t get the best run in transit,” Hayes explained. “Around the bend, we were three-wide and he peeled out and he presented, and we were only beaten a length.
“It was his first time on his Sydney leg, he was under pressure, and he just probably got onto the wrong leg. It was just greenness and getting on the wrong leg under pressure.
“He’ll learn so much from that, and so it puts him right in the Slipper.”
A Maribyrnong Stakes winner in the spring, Tycoon Star has the right autumn form heading into the Golden Slipper, having finished third in last month’s Blue Diamond Stakes behind Tentyris, who subsequently won the Todman Stakes.
The Lindsay Park stable has two Golden Slipper wins to its name—Colin Hayes prepared Rory’s Jester to win in 1985, while his son David Hayes trained Miss Finland to victory in 2006.
Despite his Todman Stakes performance, Tycoon Star remains a $15 chance for the Golden Slipper, with Tentyris and Wodeton heading the market at $6, just ahead of Reisling Stakes winner Tempted ($7).
Other Lindsay Park News
- Canterbury Stakes runner-up Here To Shock is being considered for either the G1 All-Aged Stakes or a Brisbane winter campaign.
- Evaporate, who was luckless when runner-up in The Kiwi at Ellerslie, is likely to return to Sydney for a three-year-old race at Randwick on April 5.
