Weir Ponders a Start in Next Weeks Railway Stakes for Fifty Stars

Mark Smith - Saturday November 17

Bloodstock agent John Foote has an unapparelled reputation for his successful purchases in Europe and he looks to have sourced another topliner in the Darren Weir-trained Fifty Stars (IRE) who opened his stakes account in Saturday's Group III Sandown Stakes (1500m).

Ridden by Ben Allen, Fifty Stars (IRE) took his record to six wins and two seconds from eight starts when defeating Holy Snow (Fastnet Rock) by one and a quarter lengths with Fastnet Tempest (IRE) (Fastnet Rock) a half-length back in third.

Weir said there is a chance that Fifty Stars (IRE) may back up in next weeks $1 million Group 1 Railway Stakes at Ascot.

"Whether it's the right thing to do or not, I'm not sure," Weir told AAP.

"He's had to come here, he'll have to go back to Ballarat, float down and get on a plane, fly to Perth and then you've got five days to settle in and then race again.

Advertisement

"We'll see how he does tonight, see how he is in the morning and make the decision then.

"He's an exciting horse for the future and has got the pedigree to match.

Still a 3yo by northern hemisphere time, Fifty Stars (IRE) (pictured as a yearling ) was a 110,000 guineas purchase by John Foote out of the Airlie Stud draft at the 2016 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. 

The son of the champion Sea The Stars is out of the unraced Sadler's Wells mare Swizzle Stick who is a half-sister to the Group II winner and Irish joint champion two-year-old filly of 2012, Viztoria (Oratorio).

Fifty Stars (IRE) becomes the 49th stakes winner for Gilltown Stud's imperious Sea The Stars who is a half-brother to perennial champion stallion Galileo.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Pedigree Pointers – Karaka 2026
The 2026 NZB National Yearling Sales (January 25-29) offers buyers the cream of the New Zealand crop and in the weeks leading up to the sale we’ll go looking for pedigrees of interest for a myriad of reasons.
Times are Changing and So is the Way in Which We Race Our 2YOs
If you are someone that has been around racing for as long as we have you will have noticed a big difference in the way our leading stables now handle their juveniles and if you thought spring 2YO racing was on the wane you would be right.
Yulong Purchase Half-Sister to Japan Cup Winner Calandagan for 850,000 Guineas
Yulong purchasing as Ace Stud were active during the first session of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale overnight purchasing three of the top five lots including the session topping half-sister to Sunday’s Japan Cup winner Calandagan for 850,000 guineas.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
A monster set of trials at Canterbury on Tuesday morning featured six heats for juveniles with a plethora of unraced youngsters looking to get some experience as we head towards the $3million Magic Millions 2YO Classic next month and five of the six heat winners are eligible.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday December 2
Here is the full list of 24 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Cepheus Joins the Millionaires Club
While still processing the mind-boggling win of Gold Trip (FR) in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington, the Melbourne Cup hero led another successful day for European imports.
$4million NZB Kiwi the Target for Unbeaten Filly Well Written
Unbeaten filly Well Written is back in work and while exact plans have yet to be confirmed, a clearer picture of her New Year schedule is forming.
Arrowfield Stud Secure Blueblood Mare for 1.3million Guineas
The second Sceptre Session of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale is underway and Arrowfield Stud have secured something seriously special with Jon Freyer bidding 1.3million to purchase Chere Darmoiselle, a half-sister by Kingman to Champion Sire Too Darn Hot.
Sea the Stars and Dettori Dominate Royal Ascot Day Three
Fresh from Group I success at Royal Ascot on the second day with Crystal Ocean, Galileo’s half-brother Sea the Stars was the dominating force on the third day with his champion stayer Stradivarius winning the Group I Royal Ascot Gold Cup for the second year in a row while his 3YO filly Star Catcher won the Group II Ribblesdale Stakes.
Sea The Stars' Star Catcher Claims the Irish Oaks
Supplemented for Saturday’s Group 1 Irish Oaks at a cost of €40,000 after winning the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, Star Catcher kept the ball rolling for trainer John Gosden and jockey Frankie Dettori when making all the running at The Curragh.