Doncaster Target For Emirates Winner Happy Trails
- Saturday, 10 November 2012 05:21
Finish of the Emirates StakesThe magic continued for Paul Beshara, trainer of bargain priced Group 1 winner Happy Trails when he won the Group 1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington this afternoon.
"I've never felt this good in my life", Beshara said.
When we won the Dato (Tan Chin Nam Stakes) it felt good but this is the best."
Today's success came after a hard run in the Group 1 WS Cox Plate, where Happy Trails finished a luckless tenth of the fourteen runners.
"He got laid on in the Cox Plate and it wasn't fair when everyone rubbished him and said he shouldn't have been there because he should have been there", Beshara said.
"Every horse that goes into the Cox Plate, they deserve their place there, they earn it."
Happy Trails and Paul BesharaIn today's race Happy Trails ($15-$16-$13) proved conclusively that he was a Group 1 horse, prevailing in a tough finish from race favourite Fawkner ($4.80-$5.50-$4.80F) and the consistent Solzhenitsyn ($7.50-$10).
Winning jockey Damien Oliver collected his third Group 1 for the week with a well judged ride on Happy Trails.
"I wanted to be a little closer but there was a bit of pressure early so I just let the horse be comfortable", he said.
"I knew I was on a fit horse so I started to move into it a little early and Secret Admirer and Fawkner came to him but he just outstayed them and was too strong."
Beshara sang the praises of Happy Trails, the star of his tiny Adelaide based stable, for which he paid only $11,000 as a yearling.
"This horse is a really honest horse and he just gives you 150%, that's all he does."
"He's always there but today is his day and he deserves it."
"That's what he does when he gets into his rhythm, he wins and today is his Group 1."For Oliver embattled by claims that he bet illegally, today's win on Happy Trails was his first in the Emirates Stakes.
"It's eluded me for a long time this race so it's nice to finally get it, and nice to get it for such lovely people in Paul Beshara and Dickmann family."
Oliver has only been aboard for one of Happy Trails four wins before today, but has ridden him to a number of places in Group races.
Damien OliverBeshara said:
"Today Damien rode him how he should be ridden and he just wins."
Beshara's mind is now filled with plans for what could be an exciting Autumn for Australia's latest Group 1 winner.
"Nick Williams (part owner of runner up Fawkner and Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon) said the other day that he is the best miler in Australia and I felt really good then but now I feel even better", Beshara said.
"He will go out to the paddock now and we'll bring him back in the autumn so he can have a go at the Doncaster".
Photos: Fiona Tomlin Quentin Lang