Ben, Will and JD Hayes started Melbourne Cup Day with a career first when Tycoon Star lead home a stable trifecta in the $200,000 Maribyrnong Plate.
The Lindsay Park trainers produced the Written Tycoon colt to win the Group 3 event on debut, defeating stablemates Bacash and Shining Smile.
It was not the first time the Hayes boys have trained the trifecta, but it was the first time at Stakes grade and was the perfect way to start the biggest day of the racing year according to Ben Hayes.
“We have before, but never in a Group 3,” Hayes said of the family’s history of training trifectas.
“So, it’s a big thrill and it’s a great way to start the day.”
A $350,000 National Weanling Sale product, Tycoon Star was bought by Lindsay Park for $400,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is the first foal from Equiano mare Miss Iano, which means he is from the family of Caulfield Guineas winner Kenwood Melody.
The Yulong-owned colt is likely to be directed towards top-level racing himself after his strong win in the 1000-metre event with Michael Dee aboard.
Tycoon Star ($18) travelled just behind the leading division before unleashing a powerful burst when asked from the 300m to go on and score by one length from Cosmic Force colt Bacash ($7), who nosed out Shining Smile ($5.50), a son of Spirit Of Boom, for the quinella spot.
Price Tag, the easy $3.30 favourite, was 1-3/4 lengths away third after never really looking a winning hope.
“I thought it was a very good effort by our horse; he was on debut, he jumped, he travelled well and did everything correct,” Hayes said.
“I was saying before the race, he’s a very professional horse and that’s what he brought today.
“If you’re winning this race, you can normally be very competitive in races like the Blue Diamond.”
