3 minute read

Tom Dabernig hopes to find out if Fifty Stars still wants to be a racehorse in the Underwood Stakes.

Warrnambool trainer Tom Dabernig was left scratching his head after his stable high-flyer Fifty Stars finished last in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. 

After a thorough veterinary examination, Dabernig has decided to push ahead to the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Sandown on Saturday in a bid to turn around the horse's form. 

Dabernig was not disappointed with Fifty Stars when he beat only one runner home in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, but it was a different story after being beaten almost nine lengths by Incentivise in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 11. 

"When things, as a seven-year-old stallion, don't go your way in a Group 1 against that sort of opposition, you hope that he just had a day off," Dabernig said. 

"He's normally a very consistent horse and I was a bit surprised he finished last. 

"Just to be thorough I got him checked out by the vets, had him trotted up and scoped, and he got a clean bill of health. 

"So, there was no physical reason for us not to push on and hopefully the 1800-metre tempo suits him well as anywhere from a mile to 2000 metres is his go." 

Fifty Stars has been unable to recapture the form of early 2020 that saw him win the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington and then the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m), although there have been a few placings since. 

That Australian Cup victory was the last success for Fifty Stars, but Dabernig is not concerned. 

"Mentally it was too tough for him last time, but you can forgive them for one bad run in a prep, but if they do it a couple of times, you're in strife," Dabernig said. 

"I'm not too worried though. I schooled him last week and have done so again this week, just to have him a bit more on the ball. 

"He looks great, he's healthy, he's coped with the work. He's fit and hopefully he can run a better race. 

"I think he will bounce back. Hopefully for his confidence, and mine, he will run well again."