Shelby Sixtysix's fairytale run has come to an end for now, but it's been a great ride.
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Coming off his first Group 1 victory in The Galaxy at Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill two weeks ago, the bay gelding could only finish seventh in the TJ Smith Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday, April 2.
Nature Strip won the race followed by Eduardo, the two heavy favourites, but trainer Danny Williams said he couldn't fault the Shelby Sixtysix in any way.
"I thought it was a very brave effort and the horse tried his hardest," Williams said.
"He pulled up lame and unfortunately, things didn't go to plan as hoped yesterday.
"It was associated with minor feet problems."
Also playing a factor in the result was the fact that the party horse had a week off for the first time in a while.
"Two weeks of no racing is too long and it affected him the day he arrived on race day."
Jockey Robbie Dolan rode the horse so well in The Galaxy, but Williams decided to go with jockey Tommy Berry for the TJ Smith.
"We changed jockeys because we wanted a heavier jockey and we didn't want to carry to much dead weight," Williams said.
"We didn't want to put too much pressure on Robbie."
The next race for Shelby Sixtysix could possibly be at the All Age Stakes Day at the Randwick Racecourse on Saturday, April 16.
Williams wasn't the only trainer from Goulburn involved on Day One of The Star Championships.
To The Nines, trained by Tash Burleigh, took part in the Newhaven Park Country Championships earlier in the day and finished in 13th place.
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