Skull’s Star chases big money in 2026 The Lakes at Wyong

Gallant Star has yet to add another win to his record this preparation, but trainer Brett Robb is confident the gelding deserves his shot at Saturday’s $500,000 Lakes Mile at Wyong.

The Dubbo-trained son of Zoustar will contest the 1600-metre feature for the fifth time this campaign.

His preparation began with a strong second placing in the $2 million The Kosciuszko (1200m) before another solid effort saw him finish a narrow third behind Know Thyself at Randwick on December 20.

“The last couple of starts we’ve been happy with him and have been aiming for this one since,” Robb said.

“We’ve been looking to step him up to the mile and I think we’ve found the right race to do it.”

Braith Knock partners Gallant Star, who carries 54kg and jumps from barrier 10 in a field of 14 plus an emergency, with Robusto and Amor Victorious among the headline rivals.

This weekend will mark Gallant Star’s first attempt at the mile, with his only previous run beyond 1400 metres resulting in a fifth-place finish in the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) won by future The Ingham winner Yorkshire.

That result is one of only two times Gallant Star has missed a top-four finish in 22 starts, the other being a sixth in the 2024 The Kosciuszko, a record Robb believes highlights the gelding’s consistency.

“Every time I think he’s just about found his level he steps up,” Robb said.

“Every time he goes out and comes back, he just keeps getting better and better with age.

“You look at his record and he’s never gone out there and run a bad race.”

Markets are open with major betting platforms for the Lakes Mile, giving punters a range of options ahead of Saturday’s feature.

Originally a $200,000 Inglis Classic yearling, Gallant Star was sold unraced for $32,500 via Inglis Digital in February 2022 before joining Robb and has since amassed earnings of more than $1.2 million.

Former Test cricketer Kerry ‘Skull’ O’Keeffe is among the part-owners, reflected in the skull emblem on the gelding’s colours, and Robb said he is eager to be trackside.

“I was talking to him the other day, and he’ll definitely be making his way down,” Robb said.

The post Skull’s Star chases big money at Wyong first appeared on Just Horse Racing.