Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Written by Paul Vettise
Finance Tycoon (Written Tycoon) now has the bank balance to reward his connections for their optimistic naming of the colt after he turned The Showdown at Caulfield into a procession.
The Lindsay Park representative was sent out as favourite for the race off the back of his effort for fourth in the G1 Blue Diamond S. at his previous appearance and his fresh legs ran riot to earn the $500,000 winner’s cheque.
Finance Tycoon was given a gem of a ride in second spot by jockey Luke Currie after breaking quickly from the outside gate and when he asked the precocious youngster to lengthen stride the response was electric.
“I think he put up his Blue Diamond run there and was so strong to the line. He showed everybody that he is a quality horse and a fantastic one to have in the yard,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said.
“He’s been a pleasure and has done a really good job because he’s been in since the spring and hasn’t really had a break the whole time.
“To be able to keep a 2-year-old up this long and to win that impressively is a great effort by the team and everyone at home, it’s a huge thrill.”
“To be able to keep a 2-year-old up this long and to win that impressively is a great effort by the team and everyone at home, it’s a huge thrill.” – Ben Hayes
Hayes, who trains with Tom Dabernig, said the facilities at his disposal had been integral to Finance Tycoon’s success.
“It’s pretty easy with our farm and we’ve got outdoor day paddocks, a water walker and a pool and we find we are able to keep horses fresh for a long time.
“We do have horses winning on their ninth and 10th runs. This is a nice example and a big congratulations to Luke, who took luck out of the equation.”
Finance Tycoon won untouched by 4.5l from Literary Magnate to complete a quinella for sire Written Tycoon with Scissor Step (Toronado {Ire}) third.
“We told Luke to be nice and positive and he rode him beautifully and let him get into a good rhythm. There’s only one turn at Caulfield and he travelled like a good horse a long way out, it was really good to see,” Hayes said.
There was a question mark over the previously unbeaten Starry Legend (Zoustar) running a strong 1200 metres and that unfortunately turned into reality. He made the running, but was found wanting in the final 250 metres and finished fourth.
