Gallant Star was handed the ultimate accolade after his thumping win in the Barn Dance at Randwick on Tuesday

Trainer Brett Robb was lost for words after Gallant Star turned in a masterful performance to win the Barn Dance at Royal Randwick on Tuesday.

Jason Collett rides Gallant Star to victory in The Barn Dance Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

GALLANT Star was described as having a “heart as big as Phar Lap” after winning the $250,000 Barn Dance (1300m) at Royal Randwick on Tuesday.

The Barn Dance is reserved for horses that are trained in country regions but Gallant Star is destined for more city races after his brilliant and dominant effort.

“He has a heart as big as Phar Lap – he’s not Phar Lap by the way, but we love this horse,’’ said part-owner Kerry O’Keefe, the former Test cricketer and Fox Sports commentator.

Gallant Star ($2.90 favourite), trained by Brett Robb at Dubbo, was in a race of his own as he accelerated clear to win by nearly five lengths from Our Last Cash ($26) with Melody Again ($12) a nose away third.

O’Keefe, who bowled leg spin and played in Ashes-winning series for Australia under Ian Chappell in the 1970s, said it is “such fun having this horse”.

“This horse tries so hard every time. We thought he was unlucky in the Kosciuszko and he has won like a really good horse today,’’ O’Keefe said.

Robb said Gallant Star will be now be spelled and then try to go one better $1 million Country Championships at Royal Randwick in the autumn after finishing second in the rich race behind Asgarda earlier this year.

Kerry O’Keefe was full of praise for Gallant Star after his win in the Barn Dance Picture: AAP

Then St Lawrence capped another big day for the all-powerful Ciaron Maher stable when he edged out Estadio Mestalla in a thrilling finish to the $750,000 Little Dance (1600m).

St Lawrence ($12), ridden by Chad Schofield, edged ahead of Estadio Mestalla ($2.90 favourite) right on the line to win by a head with early leader Jamberoo ($51) one-and-a-half lengths away third.

Maher was at Flemington for the Melbourne Cup where he had the third and sixth placegetters in Okita Soushi and Circle Of Fire respectively behind $91 bolter Knight’s Choice but the champion trainer had plenty to celebrate with the Royal Randwick feature race double with Gringotts in the $3 million Big Dance and then St Lawrence in the Little Dance.

“A little bit of dancing today, great day, especially those colours again,’’ said Johann Gerard-Dubord, Maher’s Sydney stable representative.

“Same ownership, Joe O’Neill, Ozzie Kheir, there are a couple of people in Gringotts in this horse, too. There will be plenty of dancing.”

Gerard-Dubord hinted that St Lawrence may follow Big Dance winner Gringotts to big-money races The Gong and The Ingham in coming weeks.

“A race like The Gong will probably be the right race for him,’’ he said.

St Lawrence (outside) wins the Little Dance in thrilling fashion Picture: AAP

“It was a very good ride from Chad today, he rode him perfectly, and it is just one of those days where it seems to work out.”

Schofield said St Lawrence had a “beautiful, cosy run” and he was confident of winning although Estadio Mestalla made him work for the win.

“I thought I got there, yeah,’’ Schofield said of the tight finish.

“We found a gap at the top of the straight and he quickened and lengthened really well.

Leading trainer Ciaron Maher captured the Big Dance-Little Dance double when St Lawrence got the nod at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Less than two hours after winning the Big Dance with Gringotts, St Lawrence edged out the Joseph Pride-trained Estadio Mesttalla to win the $750,000 Little Dance.

Jockey Chad Schofield got the best out of St Lawrence late while the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Jamberoo was a brave third.

St Lawrence wins the Little Dance in a thrilling finish and @cmaherracing celebrate the Big - Little Dance double! 🙌@SchofieldChad | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/iANUddiE2M

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 5, 2024

Originally published as Gallant Star was handed the ultimate accolade after his thumping win in the Barn Dance at Randwick on Tuesday