Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Hayes stable have a strong hand for the Aurie's Star
The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and JD Hayes will saddle a triple threat in Saturday's G3 Aurie's Star Handicap down the Flemington straight, with War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel {Ire}), Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}) and Ndola (Justify {USA}) giving the stable a very strong hand.
Co-trainer Ben Hayes said returning jockey Blake Shinn's decision to partner War Machine came after riding both War Machine and Arkansaw Kid in their Flemington jump-outs last Friday.
"He rode them both in jump-outs last Friday and I don't think there's much between them," Hayes told racingandsports.com.au.
War Machine | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Hayes believes War Machine has returned in a much better frame of mind after an interrupted previous campaign.
"He lost his way a bit last preparation," Hayes said.
"He had a long prep. He went to Queensland, freshened, came back, went to The Everest, came back, but just didn't come up in the autumn.
"He had a long break, and he seems to have come back really well. His work at home has been great and seems a happier horse. He's enjoying his trackwork, so hopefully that converts to some good runs."
Arkansaw Kid | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The stable has also changed things around with Arkansaw Kid, who enjoyed a consistent campaign when placed in the $1 million Meteorite, the Supernova, the G1 Railway Stakes and the Listed Matrice Stakes. He has since completed jump-outs at Traralgon and Flemington in preparation for his return down the straight.
"We changed things around with him to keep him thinking," Hayes said.
"He's been in work a long time, so it was like changing stables, without changing stables.
"He's (Arkansaw Kid) been in work a long time, so it was like changing stables, without changing stables." - Ben Hayes
"I thought his Traralgon jump-out was good, his jump-out on Friday was great and he's always been a consistent, good horse for the stable and is a horse we all love. He's good down the straight, he's won a couple of Bobbie Lewis', so he knows what he's doing."
Ndola | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Ndola heads into the race after a dominant victory in the Listed Santa Ana Lane Series Final down the straight earlier this month.
"He was good fresh when he got away with murder in front and they couldn't catch him," Hayes said.
"It's a step up in class and he's running against some very good horses, but he deserves to be there."
While the Hayes team appears to hold the strongest hand, the Henry Dwyer-trained Cote Atlantique (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) shapes as the most likely knockout chance with Declan Bates aboard.
Ben Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sass Appeal eyes another win on road to Group 1 target
The Danny O'Brien-trained Sass Appeal (So You Think {NZ}) was a winning machine as a 3-year-old filly, winning her final four starts, including the Listed Desirable Stakes and the G2 Kewney Stakes after finishing second on debut at Sandown in December.
Returning as a 4-year-old mare on Saturday following a break, a jump-out and a trial, she resumes in BM100 Handicap company. O'Brien is looking to build her rating ahead of a planned assault on the G1 Sir Rupert Clark Stakes this spring.
Sass Appeal | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"We've put her out early and we were well aware that she's going to need to earn some more (rating) points to get her into a Group 1, hence we've had her ready to go early as well," O'Brien told Racenet.
"We went to the paddock in the autumn with the idea of making sure we gave ourselves an early start to the spring."
"That's where our rating's at so we've got to work with that. The negative about that is that we're hoping to run her in a Group 1 race in two runs' time on the 19th of September.
"That's the balancing act but if she doesn't get to that Group 1, there's obviously a long time to the spring so we're not basing everything about that run."
Danny O'Brien | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
O'Brien also entered the talented mare for the G3 Aurie's Star Handicap but opted to remain over 1400 metres, where she carries a light weight.
"I think she's very effective over 1400 metres," O'Brien said.
"She's had a couple of goes over the course and distance and won so I didn't see any need to try something different."
"She's (Sass Appeal) had a couple of goes over the course and distance and won so I didn't see any need to try something different." - Danny O'Brien
Sass Appeal looks very well placed, but she will have to contend with Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir), who has won her past three starts. This could even be her final run for owners Julia Ritchie's Bangaloe Stud and Widden Stud before a planned date with Zoustar.
The Almanzor (Fr) gelding Rise At Dawn (NZ) also brings similar form, having finished second to Coeur Volante at his most recent start, making him also a strong each-way chance.
Enviable building towards better things at Rosehill
The beautifully bred Enviable (Frankel {GB}) was frustrating at times for her connections during her 3-year-old season, taking seven starts to break her maiden at Newcastle in dominant fashion on July 14.
However, her class was never in doubt after finishing fourth behind Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) in last spring's G1 Flight Stakes before running second to Salty Pearl (Tagaloa) in the G2 Moonee Valley Classic.
A minor issue ruled her out of an autumn campaign, but time appears to have been her friend and she looks capable of continuing her progression off that late season maiden win.
Enviable as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
"We had to give her the time and being a maiden we went and ticked off the maiden," Chris Waller stable representative Charlie Duckworth told RacingNSW.
"She was a short priced favourite the other day. It's still a big step up going from a provincial midweek maiden into Rosehill Saturday but she deserves to be there.
"We're hopeful she's right back to where we thought she'd be, which is much better than a Saturday in the middle of winter."
Duckworth believes another win could quickly see her back chasing black type success.
"There's not as much of a rush now, she already has some black type, but her rating points will go up pretty quick once you start winning on a Saturday," he said.
Charlie Duckworth | Image courtesy of Chris Waller Racing
Other chances in the BM78 Fillies and Mares Handicap over 1400 metres include the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Pierata's Gem (Pierata), who resumed with a solid fourth at Randwick, while last-start winner Miss Busslinger (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) also commands respect.
Shockletz begins Melbourne Cup qualifying campaign
The Ciaron Maher stable has long held a high opinion of promising stayer Shockletz (NZ) (Shocking), and the six-time winner resumes on Saturday with an eye towards qualifying for the G1 Melbourne Cup.
The G3 Archer Stakes on September 12 and the G3 The Bart Cummings, both over 2500 metres, offer ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup. Ciaron Maher's National assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said targeting those races has been a long-term plan.
Shockletz | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
"We're trying to get her into The Archer," Turnbull told racingandsports.
"That's our little plan, try and qualify her and then if that doesn't work, there is The Bart Cummings.
"It's been a long-term plan to work back from those particular races and get her in there. Her brother and her family have raced at those types of distances, and we feel she has got that quality."
Shockletz is a full-sister to Horrifying (NZ), a seven-time winner up to 2800 metres, while her sire Shocking famously won the Melbourne Cup.
Jack Turnbull | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"I'm really pleased with her, and she's freshened up really well," Turnbull said.
"She only had two weeks off and while she's first-up she had three runs and she's not going to be lacking fitness.
"I'm really pleased with her (Shockletz), and she's freshened up really well." - Jack Turnbull
"Last prep we were conscious of going one too many and giving her the right amount of time out to have her for this prep. We've always had time for her and hopefully she repays us."
The race favourite and clearly the horse to beat is the Lindsay Park-trained Touchdown (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), who resumed with an eye-catching fast-finishing second at Sandown, while Shockletz' stablemate Kaleo (Churchill {Ire}) also commands respect in the hands of the in-form apprentice Jabez Johnstone.
Bradman chases elusive Winter Cup breakthrough
Topweight Bradman (NZ) (Pins) faces the difficult task of carrying top weight to victory in Saturday's G3 Winter Cup at Riccarton, but the evergreen gelding has unfinished business in the race and could be having the final start of his career.
An 11-time winner, the just-turned 9-year-old Bradman's career highlight came in the Listed Flying Handicap, in 2024 at Trentham, while he has placed in the past two editions of the Winter Cup.
Bradman (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
Bradman is out of two-time New Zealand Broodmare of the Year Baggy Green (Galileo {Ire}), who is also the dam of four-time Group 1 winner Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), G1 Metropolitan Handicap winning gelding No Compromise (NZ) (Pins), and Listed winner and Group 1-placed Beanaud (Reliable Man {GB}).
"Hopefully it's third time lucky," trainer Roydon Bergerson told LoveRacing.nz.
"He is going into it in really good form and I couldn't be happier with him, he is training the best he has in his life."
"He (Bradman) is going into it in really good form and I couldn't be happier with him, he is training the best he has in his life." - Roydon Bergerson
"It is always hard to win when you are top weight, but he carried that last start and gave them a bit of a whipping, so hopefully he can bring the same form on Saturday," Bergerson said.
"The team wanted to retire him last year and I said I thought he still had a couple more wins left in him, so we brought him back.
"He could be retired after Saturday, this could be his last run."
Roydon Bergerson | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images)
As is usually the case, the 129th running of the G3 Winter Cup looks an even contest with a capacity field of 18 expected to line up.
The biggest dangers to the topweight appear to be last-start Listed Opunake Cup winner Prioress (NZ) (Proisir), noted wet-tracker Platinum Diamond (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), who must be respected despite recent form, while Flash Roca (NZ) shapes as the knockout chance for trainer Kelvin Tyler.
