Fifty Stars chasing back-to-back Australian Cups but All-Star Mile still on table

Fifty Stars is building up well as he starts a preparation geared towards another Australian Cup win but the All-Star Mile is also a possibility.

Fifty Stars (green sleeves) will be back for a crack at another Australian Cup win in the coming weeks. Picture: Kelly Defina

Classy galloper Fifty Stars will start his autumn with another Australian Cup win as his goal but trainers Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig could have five million reasons to add another target to his program.

Fifty Stars broke through for his first Group 1 win in last year’s Australian Cup but went winless in a delayed spring preparation that culminated with a solid second to Arcadia Queen in the Mackinnon Stakes last November.

Dabernig said Fifty Stars has progressed well since returning to his stable. The stallion is likely to trial later this month before resuming over 1400m at Caulfield in early February.

“He’s building up. He might go to Geelong on the 28th for a trial then kick-off in the CF Orr (Stakes),” Dabernig said.

Fifty Stars is one of 83 entries for the $5 million All-Star Mile at The Valley on March 13, a week after the Australian Cup.

Fifty Stars is likely to trial at Geelong this month. Picture: Getty Images

Dabernig said Fifty Stars’ plans could change if it looks like he will be one of 10 horses the public voted into the event.

“If he got into the race, we’d look at it, but his main goal is the Australian Cup,” Dabernig said.

“I think we’d aim for the Australian Cup and, if things changed, we’d have to adapt with him.”

Dabernig said the versatile Fifty Stars, who has won at distances between 1200m and 2000m, would have no trouble adapting to any change in his trackwork program.

“We’d just shorten his work and not quite go for the same length in his gallops but he’s a relaxed worker any way,” Dabernig said.

“He’s not the sort of horse that overworks himself.”

Dabernig said Fifty Stars would be one of a host of top Lindsay Park performers that would head to Geelong to trial on January 28.

He said VRC Oaks winner Personal and dual Australian Cup winner Harlem would probably join Fifty Stars at the trials.

Fifty Stars is a $34 chance in All-Star Mile betting.

Originally published as Fifty Stars chasing back-to-back Australian Cups but All-Star Mile still on table