Ben Hayes, Lindsay Park co-trainer, praised an essential gear update and rider change for delivering Tycoon Star’s Morphettville win.
Lindsay Park’s Ben, Will and J D Hayes are eager to turn that into Group 1 honours with Tycoon Star entered for The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Tycoon Star sported visors once more at his latest Morphettville start, with James McDonald’s booking making a big difference as well.
“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.”
This was McDonald’s opening win in South Australia on Tycoon Star, before he added the Group 1 Australasian Oaks later that day astride Panova from Chris Waller’s stable.
The visors are retained for Tycoon Star’s Goodwood bid, but McDonald travels to the Gold Coast for Hollindale Stakes day, so Luke Currie will ride.
A challenging gate awaits Tycoon Star at the extreme outside post 16.
Goodwood trends lately favour three-year-olds, in particular those fresh from victory in the Tobin Bronze Stakes (1200m) which Tycoon Star claimed recently.
Recent examples include three-year-olds Reserve Bank (2025) and Royal Merchant (2023) who both achieved the 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 mentioned that successes build confidence, similar to a new setting.
Tycoon Star has lingered in Adelaide after his win and has taken to it well, per Hayes.
“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.”
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