Lindsay Park and Michael Dee have combined in the opening event on Melbourne Cup Day, with Tycoon Star ($18.00) bolting clear in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington.
Team Hayes had four of the 10 gallopers lining up in the first race of the morning, with the $18.00 proving to be the best of the lot, holding out stable companions Bacash ($6.50) and Shining Smile ($5.50) in the concluding stages.
The debutant, by Written Tycoon, couldn’t have been more impressive in his first career start, taking a sit in behind the speed under the guidance of star hoop Michael Dee.
The unraced filly, Military Tycoon ($8.50), provided the early speed throughout the 1000m contest, while Meisho ($13.00) and Prestar ($9.50) made a line of three across the Flemington straight.
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It allowed Dee to bide his time behind a strong tempo, and when asking the ultimate question of Tycoon Star, the two-year-old colt was happy to oblige and career away with the $200,000 prize.
Co-trainer Ben Hayes was on-course to represent the stable and couldn’t have been happy to secure the trifecta in the 2024 Maribyrnong Plate.
“It’s the best result we could have asked for,” Hayes said.
“I thought it was a very good effort by our horse. He was on debut. He jumped, he travelled well, did everything correct.
“I was saying before the race, he’s a very professional horse and that’s what he brought today.
“So it’s a big thrill and it’s a great way to start the day.
“If you’re winning this race, you can normally be very competitive in races like the Blue Diamond.”
“(We’ve got) good supporters in Yulong. They’re having a fantastic carnival and I‘m glad we can keep their success going.”
Dee was delighted with the performance and was impressed with the maturity of his colt behind the gates.
“As soon as I got on him he was very composed, he was relaxed, he took everything in his stride and he was super professional,” he said.
“So before the gates opened I knew just in his demeanour that he was going to be running a good race.
“He travelled nicely in behind them and took a gap and we hit the front quite early and he was good to the line so I was very happy.
“He’s definitely a nice natural colt, he does everything right and I’m sure he’ll just keep progressing in the right direction providing he pulls up well and stays composed as he was today anything can happen with him.”
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