The David Hayes-led Lindsay Park stable celebrated their incredible 10th Australian Cup success with Fifty Stars backing-up from his Blamey Stakes win last weekend to take out the $1.5 million feature on ‘Super Saturday’.
Fifty Stars handed the Lindsay Park training team their 10th win in the 2020 Australian Cup. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The team are now waiting to see how the gutsy Sea The Star entire comes through the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) triumph before deciding whether to race him on three straight Saturday’s for a shot at the $5 million The All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield.
“It was a real thrill to win the 10th is just a fantastic effort from everyone for a lot of years,” Hall of Famer Hayes said.
“They can do it (race three times in three weeks). I saw the Irish mare (Magic Wand) do it last year (running in the Cox Plate, Melbourne Cup, Mackinnon Stakes)…so we’ll think about it for a couple of days and not make any rash decisions.”
Five-year-old Fifty Stars added to his value at stud going back-to-back at Flemington as the first winner of the Blamey Stakes – Australian Cup double since Better Loosen Up (1991).
Ridden to victory again by Irishman John Allen, who enjoyed his eighth Group 1 success, Fifty Stars ($7) was excellent late charging home for a half-length win over star Perth galloper Regal Power ($6).
“A huge thrill and it’s great to get a winner,” Allen said post-race.
“He’s got a good turn of foot.
“I was delighted to get on him today.”
It was a huge training performance to have Fifty Stars firing again on the short turnaround and a super ride from Allen travelling behind Railway Stakes winner Regal Power, who looked the winner at the 300m before being run down.
In a brilliant return to racing was the Danny O’Brien-trained Melbourne Cup champion Vow And Declare ($14) who rounded out the Australian Cup trifecta in third, two lengths ahead of the race’s two-time champion Harlem ($19) also representing Lindsay Park.
“We planned this race for a long time,” Hayes said of the Australian Cup for Fifty Stars.
“We set him for it and it paid off. I thought the tactics were spot on on the day too.
“All credit to Johnny Allen who sat on him and produced him late.
“He’s that (a high-quality horse) so he fitted the bill.”
Fifty Stars qualified for the 2020 The All-Star Mile field via the Blamey and is currently paying $13 to go around again and win the Special Conditions feature.
Regal Power, raced by prolific WA owner-breeder Bob Peters, is an emergency for The All-Star Mile and will back-up in the event ing stablemate Superstorm ($8) – a Wild Card contender – for trainers Grant & Alana Williams should he gain a start.
Click here for the latest The All-Star Mile 2020 odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.
2020 Australian Cup Results
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Barrier | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | FIFTY STARS (IRE) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | John Allen | – | 13 | 59kg | $7 |
| 2 | 6 | REGAL POWER | Grant & Alana Williams | William Pike | 0.5L | 12 | 59kg | $6 |
| 3 | 1 | VOW AND DECLARE | Danny O’Brien | Craig Williams | 1.25L | 10 | 59kg | $14 |
| 4 | 4 | HARLEM (GB) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Jamie Kah | 3.5L | 2 | 59kg | $19 |
| 5 | 2 | AVILIUS (GB) | James Cummings | Dwayne Dunn | 4.25L | 9 | 59kg | $3.20F |
| 6 | 8 | MIRAGE DANCER (GB) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Ben Melham | 5L | 6 | 59kg | $13 |
| 7 | 9 | SOUTHERN (IRE) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Michael Dee | 6L | 14 | 59kg | $21 |
| 8 | 14 | MISS SISKA | Grahame Begg | Damian Lane | 6.5L | 7 | 57kg | $16 |
| 9 | 3 | SUZUKA DEVIOUS (JPN) | Mitsuru Hashida | Dean Yendall | 6.6L | 8 | 59kg | $101 |
| 10 | 5 | KINGS WILL DREAM (IRE) | Chris Waller | Jye McNeil | 6.8L | 1 | 59kg | $8 |
| 11 | 10 | HUSH WRITER (JPN) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Brad Rawiller | 7.55L | 11 | 59kg | $41 |
| 12 | 13 | CONSTANTINOPLE (IRE) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Glen Boss | 14.55L | 4 | 58.5kg | $26 |
| 13 | 12 | CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (IRE) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Regan Bayliss | 15.55L | 5 | 58.5kg | $41 |
| 14 | 11 | VENICE BEACH (IRE) | Danny O’Brien | Fred W Kersley (a) | 15.75L | 3 | 59kg | $151 |
