Fifty Stars lost no admirers at Flemington on Saturday with a gutsy win to earn a shot at the All-Star Mile.
The Group 2 Blamey Stakes winner found himself at the rear of the pack on the final turn, but some patient riding from Craig Williams did the trick as the pair maneuvered to the front to go on and win by 1.5 lengths.
The Irish import was second-up on Saturday after running fourth in the Group 1 Orr Stakes three weeks ago at Caulfield. Fifty Stars won the Blamey Stakes last year by no more than a nose ahead of So Si Bon, who also returned for the second year in a row to run fourth.
Fifty Stars showed his usual turn of foot on the outside of Secret Blaze to grab the lead at the clock tower, and not surprisingly, he has now firmed from $34 into $17 ahead of the All-Star Mile on March 14.
Alligator Blood, who won the Australian Guineas in impressive fashion on Saturday, remains the favourite in the market.
Melody Belle, who ran third in the Futurity Stakes last week at Caulfield, is the second-elect at $5.50.