Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
September has a habit of rearranging a stable’s pecking order. Proven horses return to familiar races, while the younger ones begin answering harder questions.
The most interesting horse in a spring stable tour is often the one readers know least about and Lindsay Park has several candidates this year. Its 3-year-old team includes progeny of All Too Hard, Home Affairs, Capitalist and Sword Of State, along with Carnevale, a Pinatubo (Ire) colt out of G2 Silver Shadow Stakes winner Fiesta (I Am Invincible). Some have already shown stakes ability; others are only beginning to give the stable an idea of what may be ahead.
They will not all be rushed towards the same grand final. One is ready to build on his Group form, another appears particularly effective down the Flemington straight, and a few will be kept away from better company until the Hayes brothers are satisfied they belong there.
That leaves plenty unresolved as September begins. Will Hayes takes us through Lindsay Park’s spring team, including the young horses approaching their first serious tests and the established performers being prepared for another campaign.
But first, we learn more about the paths for the proven stars...
Older horses
Mr Brightside (NZ), 9-year-old gelding (Bullbars x Lilahjay (NZ) {Tavistock {NZ}})
“He's an absolute marvel to be honest.
“It was just incredible the way he was able to stick on and run second, obviously, full credit to Beiwacht that was a great win, but our boy was certainly the best of the chasers and to finish second after a big break was something else.
“We will try and make history and win the Maybe Diva for the fourth year in a row. We look forward to him getting back to the farm and we have a pretty good record in that race coming through the Memsie.”
Arkansaw Kid, 6-year-old gelding (Harry Angel (Ire) x Florabella {Exceed And Excel})
“Arkansaw Kid really had a flat run at Caulfield in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes on August 15, so we have elected to just freshen him and give him another go at a trial. How he trials will decide what races we target.”
Coeur Volante (NZ), 6-year-old mare (Proisir x Shanina {Testa Rossa})
“She's had a very good winter preparation. We have currently got her back at the farm. She's going to have a tick over trial at Flemington on September 4, then we're going to look at the G2 Let's Elope Stakes, which is a very good mares race for her at Flemington on September 12.”
Plymouth, 5-year-old gelding (The Autumn Sun x Malfy {Dundeel {NZ}})
“Plymouth trialled on Friday where he finished third, and he's going to look at the Listed So You Think Stakes as a kickoff point. He’s got hundreds of options throughout the spring. So we're going to just be guided by how he goes first up, how he pulls up, and there's always two and three-week options through the whole spring for him.”
Evaporate (NZ), 5-year-old gelding (Per Incanto (USA) x Savanna (NZ) {Animal Kingdom {USA}})
“Evaporate's going super. We thought it was a very game run when third in the G2 Lawrence Stakes on August 15. Cosmic Crusader has run a big race in the Memsie since which has franked the form. He's going to look at the Listed So You Think Stakes at Sandown.”
Cruiserweight (NZ), 4-year-old gelding (Hello Youmzain (Fr) x Medal O’Rose (NZ) {Medaglia D’Oro}})
“We will target a BM74 Handicap at Sandown this weekend after he missed a run at Caulfield after not getting in the field.”
Photograph, 5-year-old mare (Blue Point (Ire) x Memorial {Street Cry {Ire}})
“The Godolphin team were very happy with her effort to get black type on Saturday when running second (G3 Courtza Stakes) and they obviously ran the quinella in that race so it was a really good result. It was a great ride by Blake coming through them from well back in the field.
“She has come out of the race really nicely and we are going to head for another black type option on the 19th at Caulfield, the How Now Stakes.
Storm Leopard, 4-year-old gelding (Ghaiyyath (Ire) x Brilliance {Street Cry {Ire}})
“He ran really well on Saturday against the pattern and against the older horses at Benchmark 100 level, he raced against older horses as a 3-year-old in Benchmark 62 grade, but Benchmark 100 is another level so his effort was impressive.
“We are now looking at an open 1700-metre race at Flemington on the 12th. If we get in he will be on the minimum, if not there is a race the following week called the Gold Nugget, but the aim is Flemington.”
War Machine (NZ), 6-year-old gelding (Harry Angel (Ire) x Caserta {Hussonet {USA}})
“He ran well for third at Caulfield, it was good to see him behave in the barriers, full credit to our assistant trainer Rahis Baig, who has done a lot of work with him during the week, but he was well behaved, jumped well and raced well.
“The favourite (Oliveanotherday) was very good as we expected, but we felt like we hit the line and we're now ready for 1400 metres, so we're going to have a crack at Sir Rupert Clark on the 19th.”
Machine Gun Gracie, 5-year-old mare (Maschino x Gracie May {Written Tycoon})
“Machine Gun Gracie was another step in the right direction running a solid fifth on Saturday, she is another one that wants better ground and will be more effective on firmer ground, especially having come from Perth.
“She is building into her preparation and she is going to head to the Naturalism to try and get a golden ticket into the Caulfield Cup.”
Gallery: Lindsay Park older horses
3-year-olds
Hard Kick, 3-year-old gelding (All Too Hard x Friendly Donna {Exceed And Excel})
“Obviously it was very good to see him bounce back in the (G3) Vain Stakes. We're going to follow a similar routine and give him a jump out at Flemington on September 4 and hit the Listed Poseidon Stakes down the straight.”
Medicinal, 3-year-old filly (Brazen Beau x Tisane {Hallowed Crown})
“She unfortunately just showed signs of immaturity when she came back in, and we decided to be cautious and tip her to the paddock.”
Torture (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Sword Of State x Ruthless Lady (NZ) {Keeper})
“She's building up nicely. We elected to scratch from last Saturday and to trial again instead, and then we're going to run her in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes.”
Carnevale, 3-year-old colt (Pinatubo (Ire) x Fiesta {I Am Invincible})
“He’s just building through his final pieces of work at the farm and getting ready to trial. His spring plans aren’t set in stone yet.”
Marffiano, 3-year-old colt (Home Affairs x Miss Iano {Equiano {Fr}})
“Marffiano's just building up after a very busy time over the winter. He's just in the early stages of pre-training at the farm and won’t be seen until late in the spring.”
Jacaranda, 3-year-old filly (Home Affairs x Gracie’s Lass {Redoute’s Choice})
“We thought it was a very encouraging run from her last start at Sandown (second to Buggsy on August 22). It was a bounce back to form. We got her back to the farm where she does really well, and we're going to target a race at Sandown on September 9.”
Gin Twist, 3-year-old filly (Home Affairs x Twist Tops {Beneteau})
“Gin Twist is building up nicely. She has had her first trial and will have her second trial on September 4, then we will look to producing her for the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes. We're excited with how she's building up, and we're going to go down the straight where she has such a good record.”
Rich On Bubbles, 3-year-old gelding (Capitalist x Champagne Boom {Spirit Of Boom})
“He was good on Saturday against the pattern of the day running sixth, we don't think he's truly that effective in the soft ground, so he's going to be fine when this weather starts to improve.
“He’s going to head towards the Mike Moroney on the 12th at Flemington.”
Gallery: Lindsay Park 3-year old horses
