Lindsay Park have a strong hand on Finals Day at Flemington
It could be considered ambitious of Ben Hayes to think that this Saturday’s Finals Day card could be as lucrative for the stable as the most recent meeting at Flemington, but he is from a family known for its optimism.
Hayes and his training partner brothers Will and JD will return to Flemington with the four horses who provided them with their first metropolitan four-timer on June 22.
Le Ferrari will contest the $200,000 Listed Winter Championship Final,Sneaky Sunrise runs in the $175,000 Listed Taj Rossi Final, Aztec State goes around in the $200,000 Mahogany Challenge Final, while Crosshaven heads to the $175,000 Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final.
“They’re all going to run, they all came through last week well and we can’t fault them,” Hayes said.
“It’s two weeks between runs and they’re all into their Grand Finals, so hopefully they can all perform well again.”
Le Ferrari’s latest win came in the 1420-metre benchmark 84 and the son of Toronado gets out to 1600m for the first time since finishing sixth in the VOBIS Sires Guineas at Sandown in April last year.
“We’ll have a go at the mile because he’s pulled up great, he’s a very fit horse and we figure it’s a good time to try him to out to that trip,” Hayes said.
Veteran gelding Crosshaven will aim for back-to-back wins for the first time since winning the Listed Exford Plate and Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude as a spring three-year-old when he steps back up to 1200m.
“We’ve just done rinse and repeat with him, the same as we did before last start,” Hayes said.
Sneaky Sunrise and Aztec State are the two that Lindsay Park has high hopes for beyond this campaign and Hayes is keen to see both step out further in trip this weekend.
The Autumn Sun filly Sneaky Sunrise has won over 1400m and 1420m at her past two but gets to the 1600m of the Taj Rossi Final, while Aztec State steps up to 2500m for the first time after a strong win at 2000m.
“This will be his first time at 2500, but I’m really happy with him and we’ve been wanting to get him out to that trip for a while,” Hayes said.
Sneaky Sunrise is one of two Taj Rossi nominations for Lindsay Park, which will also run last-start fourth placegetter Jenni’s Meadow, while they could also have dual representation in the $150,000 Next Generation Sprinters Final (1200m) via Clean Reef and Perfectly Good.
Rise At Dawn, who finished second to boom import Craig on June 22, is nominated for the $150,000 Silver Bowl Final (1600m), while Apparatus is in line to contest the $175,000 Listed Creswick Sprint Final (1200m).
More Racing News
Tough Willaidow shines bright in the Southern Cross Stakes
Purchased for just $7000 and with one leg held together by pins, Willaidow’s tenacity on the racetrack has trainer Marc Conners dreaming of big achievements. The six-year-old gelding showcased his grit once again at Rosehill on Saturday, fending off all challengers to claim victory in the Group Three Southern Cross...
She’s Bulletproof does Littlefield proud in the Bellmaine Stakes
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield is not typically known for pushing her horses hard, but she had to adopt a tougher approach with She’s Bulletproof in the lead-up to a Stakes race at Sandown. The change in training and feeding regimen paid off handsomely when She’s Bulletproof claimed victory in the Group...
Snitzel colt Blitzes rivals in the Canonbury Stakes
Trainer Gerald Ryan remains cautious about pursuing a Golden Slipper start with Blitzburg, despite the colt’s impressive all-the-way victory in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. Blitzburg ($4.80), the most experienced juvenile in the field of seven, surged ahead at the top of the straight and held on...
Inkaruna bobs into 2025 Blue Diamond Stakes contention
Daniel Moor’s dedication to riding in jump-outs at training centers, often overlooked by other jockeys, has paid off in a big way. Moor secured a late booking to ride Inkaruna in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Sandown on Saturday after Craig Williams was unable to fulfill his engagement...
Jamie Melham getting used to new name
New York Lustre will forever hold a special place in the heart of jockey Jamie Melham after securing a thrilling victory at Sandown. Trained by Enver Jusufovic, New York Lustre delivered Melham her first win since marrying fellow jockey Ben Melham last month, triumphing in the John Moule Handicap (1200m) on...
The Playwright stars in thrilling finish to win 2025 Widden Stakes
Tulloch Lodge is considering following the same path with The Playwright that led Lady Of Camelot to success 12 months ago, after the filly mirrored her Golden Slipper-winning stablemate by claiming the Widden Stakes. Lady Of Camelot won the fillies’ feature last year before finishing second in the Group 1 Blue...
Fresh Ron’s Finalflutter can win Bunbury Classic 2025 says Morton
Ron’s Finalflutter kicks off her potential WA Oaks campaign this Sunday at Bunbury, and trainer Dan Morton believes she has what it takes to deliver a strong performance fresh in the Listed Greenfields Lodge WA Breeders’ Classic (1200m). “I wouldn’t rule her out,” Morton said on Tabradio. “She’s got a lot...
Paula Trenwith chases birthday gift at the Parks
Morphettville based Paula Trenwith could not think of a better present than that of winning a race on her birthday. Trenwith prepares a team of eight horses at Morphettville and has three runners at the Morphettville Parks meeting on Saturday, her birthday. Savatoff runs in the Happy 80th Birthday Glynn Pretty Handicap (1950m),...
Oh baby: Newcastle mare out to finish on a career-high
If the upcoming Rosehill meeting were scheduled just one day later, in-form mare So Newchee Thinks would be ineligible to race. The daughter of So You Think is currently in foal to Starspangledbanner, and according to racing rules, her official cut-off date for competing is February 1, which coincides with...
Price looking for Gold lining in the Southern Cross Stakes
Luke Price is the first to admit that Our Gold Hope will need both pace and luck to make an impact first-up in a black-type sprint, but he is equally confident she is in strong enough form to defy her outsider status. Priced at $61, the mare is set to start...