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...
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.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
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.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
A lone 2YO went around in an 800m trial for two and three year-olds at Hawkesbury on Tuesday and the Snitzel colt won in good style carrying the Mulberry Racing colours.
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.