Lindsay Park produced its second 2-year-old winner of the Flemington carnival when the well-bred colt Hard Landing (All Too Hard) downed his stablemate Baaqyah (NZ) (I Am Invincible) in the G3 Darley Maribyrnong Plate.
The David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained youngster followed the victory lead of his stablemate Aryaaf (Epaulette), who claimed the G3 Ottawa S. on debut on Melbourne Cup day.
Hard Landing will now be given a break and David Hayes believes he can reach a higher mark during his next preparation.
“Normally our stable finds that if you’re winning the feature 2-year-old races in the spring they are usually up to the better ones in the autumn,” he said.
“He’ll come back and run in the Prelude leading into the Blue Diamond S. We’ll probably back off the filly as well and probably run her in one of the Previews. Being by I Am Invincible she looks a ready-made 2-year-old.”
“He’ll come back and run in the Prelude leading into the Blue Diamond S.” – David Hayes
Hard Landing, who was Hayes’ pre-race tip of his runners, drove to the front 200 metres out under Luke Nolen and dug deep to account for Baaqyah with the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) third.
Luke Nolen and Hard Landing returning to scale
“I’ve been on the horse a number of times at home and he’s always showed ability," Nolen said.
“He was out in the middle of the track and was a bit lost with the windy conditions. You can forgive a horse for being a little bit unsure.
“He had a really good grounding for this and was convincing enough on the line. He will improve with the performance, he’s bred better than me and being a colt they’ll have higher aspirations for him.”
Magic Millions graduate
Hard Landing was purchased by Hayes and agent Andy Williams for $280,000 out of Vinery Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
He is a son of the G1 Lightning S. winner Snitzerland (Snitzel), who was also successful twice at Group 2 level, and she is a sister to the G3 Aurie’s Star winner Sooboog, now in the early stages of his stud career at Kitchwin Hills.
Their dam is the unraced Monte Rosa (Fraar {USA}) and she is a sister to the G3 Adelaide Guineas winner and four-time Group 1 placegetter Nina Haraka.
Hard Landing as a yearling
“He was a great-bodied horse, but had a very plain head and he’s starting to develop now,” Hayes said.
Hard Landing was bred by Encompass Bloodstock who remains in the ownership syndicate that also includes Neil Werrett and Daren Thomas’ Seymour Bloodstock.
