Staying revelation Five Star enhanced his first-class reputation over the longer journey with a high-end display in tonight’s $75,000 to-the-winner Pink Diamond Champion Distance final (660m).
Trained at Parwan by Paul Abela, Five Star (March ’19 Fernando Bale x Got One Back) pinged the lids from box seven and that was the last they saw of him.
In fact, once he jumped to the front it was game, set, match. He led them a merry dance!
Five Star ($2.50F) defeated My Father’s Son ($32.70) by 5.6L, with Mepunga Warrior ($3.50) a further 1.4L away third in a flying 37.58sec – only 3.5L off the longstanding 37.36 track record, set by No Donuts on March 27, 2016.
It was his ninth win, with five seconds and two thirds, from 26 starts and the winner’s purse spiralled his stakes to $115,870.
Breeders and owners, the BKR Racing syndicate – comprising Dean Baker and Paul Baker – also collected a $11,250 breeder’s bonus.
Five Star has proved a real staying find during the past month, winning the G3 Lizrene Speed Star and finishing runner-up in the Listed Cup Night Stayers – both at Sandown Park.
Bendigo GRC manager Troy Harley, who co-hosted the night’s coverage, said Five Star was “fast becoming one of my favourite dogs”.
And he added: “I’ll expect a beer later on when I catch up with him,” in reference to Abela.
“… A beer, I’ll buy him a slab mate,” an emotional Abela exclaimed to roving interviewer Jason Adams.
And Abela paid homage to his parents: “My mum and dad probably do more with the dogs than me.”
Soon after, Paul Baker took over from Abela and chimed in: “This is the best… I got involved in the sport as a kid, but we didn’t have anything like this.
“He (Five Star) is young, a bit immature, but he’s got a lot of upside… It’s amazing to be here!”
