Outstanding South Australian galloper Happy Trails rounded out an action-packed Melbourne Cup carnival with a thrilling win in the G1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

In a triumph for astute sale ring buying, Happy Trails sent his earnings soaring past $1.20 million with a narrow victory over Fawkner and Secret Admirer.  Leading the celebration was Morphettville trainer Paul Beshara who bought the winenr for $11,000 at the 2009 Adelaide Magic Millions.

“I’ve never felt this good in my life,” Beshara beamed.  “When we won the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes it felt good, but this is the best.  He’s a really honest horse and just gives 150% – that’s all he does.”

Having completed a campaign which netted three group races on three different tracks, Happy Trails will be sent for a spell and come back in the autumn for the Doncaster Mile at Randwick.

Happy Trails (5g Good Journey – Madame Flurry by Perugino) was bred by South Australian TBA president Brenton Parker and wife Liz and was sold through the draft of Mill Park.  He is raced by the Dickmann family of Adelaide – Peter and Erica, son Justin, daughter in law Kim, daughter Nicole and her fiance Peter Swanell.

The result was a triumph for South Australian breeding – the gelding by Cornerstone Stud’s resident sire Good Journey and his dam Madame Flurry is a three quarter sister to Group performer Flurry’s Gem.

HAPPY TRAILS
South Australian wins G1 Emirates Stakes