STATUE STARS IN GROUP ONE

Next stop Dubai?

The majority of Australian breeders would be aware of Statue of Liberty’s prowess as a sire of lightning fast sprinters due to the deeds of Hay List, Mic Mac et al.

However, Statue of Liberty also has plenty of fans overseas with winners in 16 countries (including a host of 2YO winners this year in Japan).

The son of Storm Cat has even had a winner in the United Arab Emirates, but his global renown could step up a notch in 2012 when Golden Star makes an appearance at Dubai’s night of nights, the World Cup meeting.

The Gary Moore trained Golden Star – a track record holder over 1300m at Macau’s Taipa course – took out his second Group One on Friday night (18 November) when successful in the Sand Premier Cup-G1.

The Premier Cup was the first time that internationally-trained horses (other than Hong Kong) has been invited to race at Taipa, but Golden Star had no trouble seeing off his rivals and scored by four and a half lengths with his bold front running display.

Hong Kong star, Dynamic Blitz, was joined by two horses from England and Aussie Éclair Mystic represented Australia.

“He (Golden Star) is an outstanding racehorse and we hope that win can get us an invite to Dubai,” Moore said post race.

Macau Jockey Club director of racing Michael Beattie said the aim of the Premier Cup was to provide a testing ground for horses hoping to race at Dubai’s rich carnival in February and March: “It’s a massive step forward for Macau racing to have the foresight to move into the international sphere.”

Fired out of the gates by Louis Corrales, Golden Star cut some quick early sectionals to lead the field by four lengths into the back straight, before going further ahead approaching the home turn.

Golden Star has now won 12 of his outings in Macau – including the Sand Premier-G1 and Chairman’s Challenge Cup-G1 last year plus a Group Three for some $A700k in stakes.