Dallas Star (right) © Photo Healy Racing
Outsider of the quintet of runners at 50/1, Dallas Star was a shock winner of the P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes.
A winner on heavy ground at Bath last October for Dominic Ffrench-Davis before finishing a well-beaten third of four in the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket, the son of Cloth Of Stars was making his debut for Adrian Murray and led early before being headed at halfway by Deepone
The latter appeared to be travelling best on the approach to the straight but hit the wall a furlong and a half out as Dallas Star regained the lead.
From there the AMO Racing-owned colt stayed on well to beat the Ballydoyle-trained pair The Euphrates and Illinois by three lengths and two and a quarter lengths.
Winning rider Seamie Heffernan, doing well in his new freelance role, was doubling up after winning the opener on Ecureuil Secret
“We were on a mission today to see how we were going or where we were going to go next," said Murray.
“He kept finding for him. Twice during the race I thought he was done for and he kept coming back.
“I never thought I’d see the day where we would be competing in the same race as Aidan O’Brien.
“I was so near to packing it in a few years ago and It’s amazing the way things can turn around.
“The horses are very healthy and that is a big thing.
“He’ll be entered in all the big races now I suppose and we’ll see where we go. I’ll have to chat to Kia and Robson and see where they want to go.
“He came to us over the winter.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
