Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
What is the secret to producing three 3-year-old winners of high-class races in two days? The answer, according to Lindsay Park Racing, is surprisingly simple. And that was why the operation – with facilities in Euroa, Flemington and Pakenham – was able to celebrate three fine victories from three promising horses at The Valley and Sandown on Friday night and Saturday.
Arguably the most impressive was Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto (USA)), a comfortable 1l winner in the G2 Stutt S. (1600 metres) at The Valley on Friday night. It was his fourth victory in a row and first at stakes level, with Lindsay Park now all but certain to send him to the G1 Caulfield Guineas on October 12.
JD Hayes was delighted Evaporate’s triumph on Friday night, winning by 1l despite being pushed wide before the turn, then showing an excellent turn of foot to salute.
Evaporate (NZ) driving home to win the G2 Stutt S. on Friday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I don’t even know if Mick (jockey Michael Dee) gave him one behind the saddle, so he did it all under his own steam. He’ll definitely take his place in the Guineas. That was a very dominant, authoritative win. He’s a really exciting prospect," JD Hayes said.
Ndola (Justify (USA))'s 1l triumph in Race 2 for 3-year-old colts and geldings at Sandown on Saturday, and Stoli Bolli (Deep Field) also comfortably prevailing by 2l in Race 1 for 3-year-olds at The Valley on Friday night meant the Hayes brothers – Ben, JD and Will – have plenty to look forward to.
A simple but effective strategy for young horses
Their method of success when it comes to younger horses – they trained Little Brose (Per Incanto (USA)) to the G1 Blue Diamond S. title for 2-year-olds last year – is a simple but effective one.
“We’ve got a very good template and system at Lindsay Park, where we’re able to get very good education into our younger horses,” Hayes said.
JD Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“They go through a system where we teach them how to water walk, treadmill and gallop out on the hills, and then we’re able to take them to different locations and we’re able to get some good trials and education into them.”
“They go through a system (at Lindsay Park) where we teach them how to water walk, treadmill and gallop out on the hills, and then we’re able to take them to different locations and we’re able to get some good trials and education into them.” - JD Hayes
It was this kind of attention to detail which greatly assisted Evaporate before his outstanding performance in the Stutt S.
“The key to horses like Evaporate, in between runs he comes back to our farm and we’re able to get him out in the day paddock and he gets use of our grass track and water walker.
Water walker at Lindsay Park | Image courtesy of Lindsay Park Racing
“That helps them to keep fronting up to the races because he’s put up four in a row now, so that’s a testament to the horse but also to the facilities we have back home. It’s been a very good little weekend for our 3-year-olds.”
A love for Per Incanto's progeny
Group 1 winner Little Brose is also by Per Incanto (USA), and this was a major reason why Lindsay Park Racing purchased Evaporate for $330,000 from Sledmere Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Evaporate (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“The stable has had a bit of luck with Per Incantos. We’ve bought him off the back of the success of Little Brose. He’s a different style of horse to Little Brose, but he’s a very strong here-and-now individual. We always thought the best of him would be as a spring 3-year-old, and he’s quite heavy. That’s why we elected to geld him nice and early. I think that is what’s been the making of him.”
Per Incanto has produced seven Group 1 winners. In the 2022-23 season, he sired two Australian Group 1 winners, VRC Champions Sprint victor Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) and Little Brose, as well as Group 2 winner Lost And Running (NZ).
At Karaka in 2024, Per Incanto’s yearlings sold for up to NZ$500,000 in Book 1 and he averaged NZ$170,000. With progeny earnings in excess of NZ$81 million, he boasts an impressive career winners to runners percentage above 66 per cent and 5 per cent stakes winners to runners. In Asia, he boasts an 80 per cent winning strike rate.
Ndola cruises like sire Justify
Ndola showed excellent cruising speed, poise and a turn of foot to win a 1400-metre race for colts and geldings at Sandown on Saturday. His US Hall of Fame sire Justify (USA) was renowned for exhibiting these qualities. It also signalled a turnaround in fortunes after the colt finished seventh last start in the Poisedon S. at Flemington on September 14.
“It was a lovely, small field and it was a good ride by (jockey) Luke Currie to put him into the race nice and early. He did it in a nice style, and it was good to get him back on track. He’s building a nice record, too, and he’s going to be better in time.”
Hayes mentioned that Ndola was the best horse to come out of his dam, Group 3-winner Hear The Chant (Nicconi).
“We’re so pleased the (owners) Devitts and Gordons listened to the team at Seymour Park, who advised that he (Ndola) was a colt who needed time.
“And while he may not be appreciated by the yearling sale, he should be given the time to grow out and be a racehorse.”
“She won nearly $380,000 on the track, so he’s definitely been the best one out of her, and he’s very progressive. When you look at him as a physical type, he’s still very lengthy and scopey and has got a lot of growing to do.”
Ben Hayes with Ndola after his victory at Sandown on Saturday | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Hear The Chant won five races including the G3 Thoroughbred Club S. at her third start, and is the dam of three foals, all winners. Hear The Chant is out of a winning daughter of Group 1-placed winner Calm Smytzer (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Stoli Bolli salutes for Sandblom
On Friday night, Stoli Bolli (Deep Field) was another impressive winner for the Lindsay Park operation, saluting by 2l in Race 1 for 3-year-olds over 1200 metres at The Valley. The Hayes training team mentored Stoli Bolli’s dam, Champagne Boom (Spirit of Boom), who won the Listed Debutante S. on debut.
Stoli Bolli’s sire, Deep Field, has sired 32 Stakes winners, and won his first five races by a combined margin of 24l. Stoli Bolli is Champagne Boom's first foal.
Stolli Bolli cleared away in the Vobis Silver H. at Moonee Valley on Friday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Bred by Kingstar Farm, Stoli Bolli was withdrawn from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale before failing to make his $70,000 reserve at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale. Kingstar Farm owner Matthew Sandblom then sent the young sprinter to Lindsay Park.
“It's a good story behind this horse," Ben Hayes told Racing.com after his win on Friday night. "We trained the mare, so we went out and looked at him in the paddock.
“He didn't go through (at the Gold Coast), and then Matty (Sandblom) sent it our way (when failing to sell at the National Sale). We're very thankful because he's got a lot of ability and it was great to get a nice win."
