Fifty Stars (IRE) defended his title in Saturday’s Group II Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington earning him an entry for the $5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield in a fortnight, which throws up something of a dilemma for the five-year-old’s connections.
The son of Sea The Stars is obviously a valuable stallion prospect but has failed to win in seven starts at Group 1 level.
He came closest when narrowly edged out by Fierce Impact (JPN) in the Cantala Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last spring but the All-Star Mile, which will be run this year at Caulfield, is not graded while next week’s Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington carries the all-important Group 1 status.
In two previous starts at 2000 metres, Fifty Stars (IRE) finished fifth in Magic Wand’s Mackinnon Stakes and was sixth in the Ballarat Cup.
He was strong at the finish of Saturday’s race where he defeated Secret Blaze (Sizzling) by one and a half lengths with Admiral's Joker (Bel Esprit) a neck back in third.
Co-trainer David Hayes said he will consult with owner Gerry Ryan on the immediate future of Fifty Star (IRE).
"We're just going to sleep on it," Hayes told racing.com.
"He's a stallion prospect by Sea The Stars so a Group 1 Australian Cup win would be a great race for him to win but it's (All-Star) the richest mile in the world so we might go to Sydney for the Group 1s after the race.
"If the Guineas form has blown us out of the water and we were kidding ourselves, the Australian Cup is very tempting.
"Smarter people than me can dissect the two races and have a look but I've got a feeling that will measure up favourably.
"If he were mine, I would go for the All-Star Mile but he's not mine."
Formerly trained by Darren Weir, Fifty Stars (IRE) was transferred to David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig early last year.
With two Blamey Stakes, a Group II ATC Ajax Stakes and a Group III MRC Sandown Stakes on his resume, Fifty Stars (IRE) advances his record to 9 wins and 3 seconds from 22 starts with earnings of $1,138,550.
He 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).
