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.

"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...
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
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.
Pinhook Winners 2024 NZB Ready to Run – Churchill Colt the Star
A record breaking NZB Ready to Run Sale this week at Karaka delivered plenty of pinhook success with 18 two year-olds selling for $300,000 or more above their yearling purchase price, so let’s take a look at some of the best of them.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Son of Sea The Stars Captures Sydney Cup
Australian Bloodstock has an unparallel reputation for sourcing European horses that can compete at the top level in Australia and they have done it again with Saturday's $2 million Group 1 Schweppes Sydney Cup winner Shraaoh (IRE).
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.
Best On Breeding
The cerise, white crossed sashes and black cap of Bob Peters, Peter's Investments, may not be the once dominant force they have been for decades in Western Australian racing, but they are far from finished.
Halo Racing Reduction features in November (Late) catalogue
Shares in reigning G1 Caulfield Cup champion Duke de Sessa, G1 Toorak Hcp winner Attrition and tomorrow’s G1 Railway Stakes favourite Light Infantry Man headline an exciting Inglis Digital November (Late) Online Sale.
Magic Millions 2025 Magazine Online
The 2025 Magic Millions magazine is now online with a great mix of gallery images, editorial and vendor profilies.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.