Lightweight jockey Jye McNeil has the huge challenge of negotiating the outside barrier after Fifty Stars came up with the visitor’s draw in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on Day One of The Championships on Saturday.
Fifty Stars, above, has a huge task to overcome the outside barrier in the 2019 Doncaster Mile at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Fifty Stars drew barrier twenty-four in the original draw and will jump from the extreme outside gate when the field of twenty is finalized at scratching time on Saturday morning.
The Lindsay Park trained Fifty Stars is racing in fine form with wins at his last two starts in the Group 2 $200,000 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on March 2 and in the Group 2 $200,000 Hyland Race Colours Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 16.
Co-trainer Tom Dabernig couldn’t be happier with the way Fifty Stars is racing heading into the Doncaster Mile but admits he is facing a huge task from the outside gate.
“He is in excellent form. His last two runs he has won at Group 2 level,” Dabernig said.
“He likes a bit of cut out of the ground. The gate is going to be a little bit of a challenge.”
Despite drawing the car park, Fifty Stars is sharing favouritism for the Doncaster Mile at $5.50 with the Team Hawkes trained Brutal at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Brutal was also out of luck at the barrier draw, coming up with gate twenty-one but will jump from eighteen if all of the emergencies fail to gain a start.
The Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig will also saddle up the three year old filly Fundamentalist ($9.50) and outsider So Si Bon ($41).
Fifty Stars is the winner of eight of his twelve race starts and has only been tested once at Group 1 level for an eleventh to Manuel in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield during the 2019 Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
The post Outside barrier huge challenge for Fifty Stars in 2019 Doncaster Mile appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au.
