Starspangledbanner Debut 2YO Winner

Tara Madgwick - Saturday July 1

Lindsay Park have been unstoppable with their juveniles this season and produced a lovely late season prospect in Stellar Olympus, who made a winning debut in the $150,000 VRC Next Generation Series Final (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Stellar Olympus wins on debut at Flemington - image Grant Courtney

Trained by Ben and JD Hayes, Stella Olympus surged along the fence for Ben Allen to score a tenacious head win in a thrilling finish justifying the decision to run at Flemington rather than Geelong where he was also entered.

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Small field, good prizemoney and a better surface led to Stellar Olympus starting at Flemington in a tough race on debut, but JD Hayes felt he was always capable of a big run and has a bright future.

“I was nervous at the 200m when he wasn’t getting a run, but when the split came I thought he was good enough to show that turn of foot and get past them," said JD Hayes.

“We think he will be a better horse at 1400m which adds more merit to the performance and I have to give a shout out to Johnny McKeever, who selected him at Melbourne Premier as he’s been a big horse and he’ll be even better in six months time.”

Stellar Olympus was bred and sold by Gilgai Garm - image Grant Cournney.

A $160,000 Inglis Premier purchase for McKeever Bloodstock / Dabernig Racing from the Gilgai Farm draft, Stellar Olympus is the second winner from Group II winning O’Reilly mare Hera (NZ). Gilgai Farm sold a yearling full sister to Stellar Olympus at Inglis Premier this year for $40,000.

Starspangledbanner returns to Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $33,000.

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Race Result - Next Generation Series Final 1200m

Flemington Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:12.44
1
Stellar Olympus
- 2g Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Hera (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: Ben Allen 57
2
0.2
Eugenius
- 2g Magnus (AUS) x Kamuniak (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: S P Nichols Rdr: Zac Spain 56.5
3
1.0
Extreme Spirit
- 2c Extreme Choice (AUS) x Miss Spirituality (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: B Melham 59
4
1.7
Spring Eagle
- 2g Alpine Eagle (AUS) x Garland (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: Gavin Bedggood Rdr: Beau Mertens 58
5
2.0
Mafia
- 2c Written Tycoon (AUS) x Hell Or Highwater (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: D Oliver 58
6
5.2
Yeronga Songbird
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Stylish Bel (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: W Egan 55
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