Despite not yet breaking through for a win this campaign, Gallant Star has shown trainer Brett Robb enough to warrant a tilt at Saturday’s $500,000 Lakes Mile at Wyong.
The Dubbo-based gelding will line up for his fifth start of the preparation in the 1600-metre event.
Gallant Star kicked off the campaign with a strong second placing in the $2 million The Kosciuszko (1200m) before continuing his honest form when finishing narrowly third behind Know Thyself at Randwick on December 20.
“The last couple of starts we’ve been happy with him and have been aiming for this one since,” Robb said.
“We’ve been looking to step him up to the mile and I think we’ve found the right race to do it.”
Braith Knock retains the ride on Gallant Star, who will carry 54kg and jump from barrier 10 in a competitive field that includes Robusto and Amor Victorious, trained by Bjorn Baker.
The Lakes Mile marks the first time Gallant Star has been tested at 1600 metres, with his only previous run beyond 1400m resulting in a fifth-place finish in the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) won by later The Ingham victor Yorkshire.
That run is one of just two occasions the Zoustar gelding has finished outside the top four in 22 career starts, the other being a sixth in the 2024 The Kosciuszko.
“Every time I think he’s just about found his level he steps up,” Robb said.
“Every time he goes out and comes back, he just keeps getting better and better with age.
“You look at his record and he’s never gone out there and run a bad race.”
Markets are open with leading online bookmakers for the Lakes Mile, giving punters plenty to consider ahead of the Wyong showdown.
Purchased for $200,000 at the Inglis Classic, Gallant Star was later sold unraced for $32,500 via Inglis Digital in February 2022 before joining Robb, and has since banked just over $1.2 million.
Former Australian cricketer Kerry ‘Skull’ O’Keeffe is among the part-owners, a nod reflected in the skull emblem on the gelding’s black and pink silks.
“I was talking to him the other day, and he’ll definitely be making his way down,” Robb said.
The post Skull’s Star chases big money at Wyong first appeared on Just Horse Racing.
