Star Up For Magic Challenge
Owner-breeder Bob Peters has declared Group 1 winning mare Galaxy Star “fit and ready” for tomorrow’s Group 3 Roma Cup (1200m) at Ascot.
Galaxy Star recorded wins in the Asian Beau Stakes, Railway Stakes and Ted Van Heemst Stakes, as well as a third placing in the Kingston Town Classic last campaign.
The Redoute’s Choice mare then tuned up for the Roma Cup with a solid third placing to Flirtini in a 1000m trial at Belmont on May 6.
The Roma Cup will kick-start a four race winter campaign for Galaxy Star, with the Belmont Sprint, Hyperion Stakes and Strickland Stakes all on her agenda.
Peters said Galaxy Star would be most vulnerable in the Roma Cup, but expected her to be difficult to beat over the course of the campaign.
“1200 isn’t her right distance,” he told The Races WA.
“This will be the hardest of the four Weight-For-Age races coming up.
“If she can perform well here, we have a good chance of doing well between now and June.”
Galaxy Star was installed a $2.80 favourite with TABtouch, but quickly supported into $2.60, while Rock Magic was also supported from $3.20 to $3.10.
Rock Magic will be out to secure his third straight Roma Cup win and looms as the main threat to Galaxy Star in the $150,000 feature.
Electric Light ($6) and Vital Silver ($8) are the only other runners in single figures.
Meanwhile, Peters will also have enigmatic galloper Stageman return to racing in the Free Entry To Belmont Park Handicap (1100m), where he meets impressive filly Dance Music.
It will be Stageman’s first time at the races since he was scratched at the barriers prior to a 1200m event on Railway Stakes day.
The four-year-old has been transferred from Grant and Alana Williams to Adam Durrant for this campaign.
Peters said it was a frustrating end to a campaign that promised a lot for Stageman, but was hopeful he could bounce back to his best this time in.
“He was unfortunate a horse played up alongside him the start before that and it upset him,” he said.
“We might have to look at a special way we can handle him.
“It could be a little bit short for him and he’s hit a pretty good field.
“He’s quite a nice horse.”
Stageman is rated a $6.50 chance with TABtouch, behind Dance Music $1.70.
Tim Walker