ADELAIDE – Lindsay Park co-trainer Ben Hayes credited an important gear change and a jockey change for Tycoon Star’s recent Morphettville victory.

Now the Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and JD Hayes are hoping to parlay that success into a Group 1 victory when Tycoon Star heads to the A$1 million (S$915,000) Group 1 The Goodwood (1,200m) at Morphettville on May 9.

Visors were added to Tycoon Star’s race day gear last start in the Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes (1,200m) at Morphettville, but the engagement of James McDonald was also an important factor.

“I think the visors did the trick,” said Ben Hayes.

“It was a tough win also as he sat wide throughout and he won quite nicely, but I also got a big kick out of James riding his first winner in South Australia.”

Tycoon Star was McDonald’s first win in South Australia. Later that day, he went on to claim the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2,000m) aboard the Chris Waller-trainer Panova.

The visors remain on Tycoon Star for The Goodwood, but unfortunately McDonald is Gold Coast-bound for the A$500,000 Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1,800m) meeting and Luke Currie takes over in the saddle.

Tycoon Star has not fared well in the barrier draw, drawing the extreme outside gate of 16.

But recent history in The Goodwood points to three-year-olds running well, especially those to have won the Tobin Bronze Stakes as Tycoon Star did last start.

Reserve Bank (2025) and Royal Merchant (2023) are three-year-olds who have completed the double in recent years.

“An interesting stat about him, he’s never not run in a Stakes race,” said Hayes.

“He’s been a very good horse, running against the best. He’s always been thereabouts.

“We purposely held him back from the early autumn to target this race...