Lindsay Park co-trainer Ben Hayes put down a key equipment adjustment and a switch in riders to Tycoon Star’s latest triumph at Morphettville.
The Lindsay Park operation run by Ben, Will and J D Hayes now seeks to build on that achievement aiming for a Group 1 success as Tycoon Star lines up in The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville this Saturday.
Visors returned to Tycoon Star’s racing kit at his most recent Morphettville outing, yet booking James McDonald proved equally vital.
“I think the visors did the trick,” Ben Hayes said.
“It was a tough win also as he sat wide throughout and he won quite nicely, but I also got a big kick out of James riding his first winner in South Australia.”
Tycoon Star marked McDonald’s initial victory in South Australia, and that same afternoon he secured the Group 1 Australasian Oaks riding Chris Waller-trained Panova.
The visors stay fitted for Tycoon Star in The Goodwood, though McDonald heads to the Gold Coast for the Hollindale Stakes card, with Luke Currie stepping up to ride.
Tycoon Star drew poorly in the gates, landing the widest stall at number 16.
However, patterns from recent Goodwood runnings favour three-year-olds, particularly those coming off success in the Tobin Bronze Stakes (1200m) like Tycoon Star did last time.
Reserve Bank (2025) and Royal Merchant (2023) stand as recent three-year-olds who achieved that Tobin Bronze-Goodwood double.
“An interesting stat about him, he’s never not run in a Stakes race,” Hayes said.
“He’s been a very good horse, for a long time, running against the best and he’s always been thereabouts.
“We purposely held him back from the early autumn to target this race and hopefully it can all align and he can run well.”
Hayes noted that although victories boost equine morale, a fresh environment delivers similar benefits.
Tycoon Star has stayed on in Adelaide post his recent score, and Hayes reported he has flourished there.
“Ash, who has been looking after him, said he has been bright and well and really enjoying it,” Hayes said.
“We’re really excited and think he’s a genuine chance.
“If he can win that race, he’s got a pretty good (breeding) page behind him, and being Group 1 placed and a Stakes winner as a two-year-old, you never know.
“He’s racing for his future (as a Yulong stallion), but three-year-olds in the Goodwood have a good record.”
Explore the Australian betting sites for top racing odds on Tycoon Star in The Goodwood.
