Race favourite Fifty Stars is on trial for a trip to Perth for the 2018 Ascot Racing Carnival when he lines up in the Group 3 $150,000 Araza Sandown Stakes (1500m) at Ladbrokes Park at Sandown on Saturday.
Fifty Stars, above, is on trial for a trip to Perth when he runs in the Sandown Stakes at Sandown. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Fifty Stars completed his rise up through the grades and earned a crack at open class with his win in the 1400m BenchMark 90 Handicap at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
The four year old is nominated for both the Group 1 $1m Kirin Railway Stakes (1600m) on November 24 and the Group 1 $1m Magic Millions Kingston Town Classic (1800m) on December 9 at Ascot in Perth and trainer Darren Weir said he would head west with another positive performance at Sandown.
“He is going really well,” Weir told racing.com.
“Obviously he has to take another step on Saturday and we are hopeful that he can.”
“He is in great shape and he has worked well since he ran over the Carnival.”
“Really looking forward to Saturday. It is pretty important for us going forward because if he happens to get the job done on Saturday, then Perth comes on the radar.’
“So exciting and looking forward to it.”
Apprentice Ben Allen was aboard Fifty Stars for his win at Flemington and gets the ride again on the Sea The Stars stallion who has drawn barrier two in the nine horse Sandown Stakes field.
Bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au think that Fifty Stars is the one to beat again in the Sandown Stakes and have him as the $2.25 favourite ahead of Dollar For Dollar at $6, Fastnet Tempest at $7 and Sircconi at $7.50.
Betting for the Railway Stakes has Fifty Stars marked at $12 while in the Kingston Town Classic he is listed as a $21 chance.
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