Bargain buy Happy Trails will head to the Cox Plate after an impressive win in Saturday’s Group One Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
The $11,000 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale graduate rolled back to the clock to his win in last spring’s Emirates Stakes with a similar hard fought, but strong victory.
His Adelaide based connections look set to take on superstars including Atlantic Jewel and It’s a Dundeel in the Cox Plate in three weeks following his latest success.
Given a copybook ride by Dwayne Dunn, Happy Trails gave the South Aussies plenty to cheer about when he beat out highly regarded rivals Puissance De Lune, Fawkner and Hawkspur.
“He’s like my brother or my son, I just love him,” trainer Paul Beshara said.
“He’s always been underrated and he’s never run a bad race in his life. We owe him so much to think what he has done for us.”
Beshara purchased the outstanding son of Good Journey for just $11,000 from the draft of Mill Park Stud at the 2009 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for the Dickmann family.
Peter and Erica Dickmann, on course to cheer home their champ, race the gelding with son Justin, daughter in law Kim, daughter Nicole and her fiance Peter Swanell.
“He’s just the most amazing horse,” a delighted Erica Dickmann said. “He ran some excellent races at his past couple of runs and Paul had him spot on today.”
“We are having just the most incredible time with this horse. He is such a wonderful racehorse and has a big heart and always tries his best.”
The result was a triumph for the crow eaters with Happy Trails bred by South Australian Thoroughbred Breeders’ President Brenton Park and wife Liz and sold through the Watson family’s Mill Park Stud at Meningie.
A half brother to the stakes performer Heart of a Lion, who finished second in Adelaide on Saturday, Happy Trails is a son of the Cornerstone Farm based Nureyev horse Good Journey.
He is from the winning Perugino mare Madame Flurry, a three quarter sister to Flurry’s Gem and half sister to Lake Villa and Flurry’s Autumn, the dam of group winner Royal Sash.
Winner: Happy Trails
Breeding: Good Journey-Madame Flurry (Perugino)
Race: VRC Turnbull Stakes G1 (2000m)
Sold for: $11,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale
Vendor: Mill Park Stud (As Agent)
Buyer: Paul Beshara
Earnings: $1,589,150
Owner(s): P & Mrs E Dickmann, J & Mrs K Dickmann & Ms N Dickmann & P Swanell
Trainer: Paul Beshara (Morphettville)
