THE grey Don’t Be Shy held off Grand Annual winner Gold Medals to claim a thrilling Australian Steeplechase at Sandown last week, beating Gold Medals by three lengths with King Kamada back in third.

The Dominator, ridden by Johnny Allen and coming off an impressive Warrnambool carnival, went clear down the back straight to establish a three-length lead.

But he stumbled and brought down fellow runner Spying On You at the second last fence.

The favourite Self Sense proved too strong in the Australian Hurdle as he held off second favourite Two Hats, despite a mistake at the last.

Duca dominates

THE former Johnny Murtagh-trained Duca Valentinois landed the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup over Doomben’s 1,600 metres on Saturday.

It was the first group win for the Holy Roman Emperor gelding who switched to the Godolphin stable of John O’Shea in 2015, and who has since started 25 times for five wins.

Fifty Stars unbeaten

THE Airlie Stud-bred Fifty Stars, conceived to northern hemisphere time and imported into Australia, landed his fourth straight win at Sandown on Saturday.

Trained by Darren Weir, the Sea The Stars colt out of the Sadler’s Wells mare Swizzle Stick is raced by Gerry Ryan who tasted Melbourne Cup success with Americain.

“The (June 9th) Queensland Guineas (Group 2) is an option and it’s something that we’ll seriously consider now,” said Weir. “It will make him grow up a bit as well but in the back of our mind is he’s six months behind the other three-year-olds.”