Railway Stakes trip off for Fifty Stars

After briefly considering a trip to Perth for a Group One race, connections of Fifty Stars have decided against the potentially taxing journey.

Fifty Stars won Saturday’s Group Three Sandown Stakes and trainer Darren Weir was toying with taking the four-year-old to Perth for next week’s Railway Stakes at Ascot.

But after careful consideration, Weir and connections have decided against the trip.

Weir was concerned about the amount of travelling Fifty Stars would undertake in the next 24 hours.

He would have required a float trip back to his Ballarat on Saturday then a trip to the airport before having to settle in once he arrived in Perth.

“It’s just the logistics of it all,” Weir said.

“It’s just a bit hard on the horse. I just want to make sure I make the right decisions as he’s got a good future.”

Fifty Stars shortened from $9 to $5 second favourite behind Galaxy Star ($4.50) immediately following his win on Saturday.

Ridden by apprentice Ben Allen, Fifty Stars was sent off the $1.70 favourite in defeating Holy Snow ($7.50) by 1-1/4 lengths, with Fastnet Tempest ($12) another half-length away.

With the Perth trip now off, Weir said he would set about finding the right path for Fifty Stars.

“He’s a beautiful horse and he’s got a good pedigree so we need to win a good race,” Weir said.

Weir will have Iconoclasm and Peaceful State contest the Railway Stakes while Voodoo Lad and Junipal will join that pair on the trip west.