Hard Landing returned following a lengthy, illness-forced break to triumph in Saturday’s Jockey Celebration Day H. at The Valley on Saturday and set himself up for a return to stakes racing.
The 3-year-old showed his talent in a brief campaign last season when he won the G3 Maribyrnong Plate on debut at Flemington, where the subsequent G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) finished third.
Hard Landing then stepped out in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield, but was unplaced after leading and subsequent veterinary tests revealed all was not well.
“It’s fantastic to see him back and he was lightly-raced as a 2-year-old because he got really sick and we had to treat him with big doses of antibiotics and we really looked after him,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said.
“He’s really matured into himself now and grown up over the hind. It’s great to see him win like that, it’s a big thrill.” – Ben Hayes
“He’s really matured into himself now and grown up over the hind. It’s great to see him win like that, it’s a big thrill.”
Hard Landing was quickly into stride and raced in second spot to the turn before he assumed control 150 metres off the post and was too good under jockey John Allen.
“Today was a bit of a test as there’s a race here in three weeks’ time, the G3 McNeill S., and it looked like he handled The Valley pretty well. That will be his next step,” Hayes said.
“He’s got a great group of owners, including Darren Thomas and Neil Werrett and a lot of others. It’s really good to get a nice winner for those guys as they are big supporters of ours.”
It was also a significant success for the stable, as it was the first for the new training partnership of Hayes and Dabernig following David Hayes’ departure to Hong Kong.
Magic buy
Hard Landing was offered by Vinery Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and was purchased by Lindsay Park Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock for $280,000.
Bred by Encompass International who remain in the ownership, the colt is a brother to the winner and Group 3 placegetter Saas Fee.
Hard Landing as a yearling
They are out of G1 Lightning S. and dual Group 2 winner Snitzerland (Snitzel), who is a half-sister to the G3 Aurie’s Star H. winner and sire Sooboog. It is also the family of the G3 Adelaide Guineas winner and four-time Group 1 placegetter Nina Haraka (Fraar {USA}).
Hard Landing, who will no doubt strip sharper for his resuming run, had 0.5l to spare on last-start winner Diesel ‘N’ Dust (Pride Of Dubai) at the finish, with first-starter The Cruiser (Charge Forward) a sound third.
