Makram returns for winter cameo
Lindsay Park trainers Ben and J D Hayes have taken a different approach to start the brief winter campaign of Makram at Flemington.
Having undergone fetlock surgery post his spring campaign, the Hayes brothers have elected to start Makram off over 1600m in the VJA Winter Championship Trophy on Saturday.
An Irish-bred import that raced in UK before arriving in Australia, Makram's two previous first-up runs had been at 1400m which he had found too short.
However, with those 1400m contests under the belt, Makram came out at his next start to win each time over 1700m at Flemington.
The most recent of those was defeating Hezashocka last September.
"He's a horse that generally needs a run before he gets to peak fitness," Ben Hayes said.
"But his mannerisms have been very good this prep, more relaxed, so hopefully that translates to a good campaign for him.
"We've also decided to kick him off over a mile this campaign. That's more his trip.
"Over the 1400 metres when starting off his previous two campaigns, he was outsprinted, but then he came out and won second-up at 1700m at Flemington both times.
"He does have a big weight, but he could run very well fresh, and hopefully we should see him finishing off strongly.
"The idea is to just give him one or two runs and then back-off off for the spring.
"We just wanted to get him in and moving after the surgery."
Makram showed staying promise last campaign, finishing second in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield before coming from back in the field when third to Melbourne Cup runner-up Emissary in the Listed Geelong Cup (2400m).
The gelding underwent his surgery after that run but showed he was ready for a return to the track with an 1100m trial win at Tatura on May 9.
Stablemate So Si Bon, also an acceptor in Saturday's race, will head to Adelaide instead to contest the Group 3 R A Lee Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville.
"He's never been across to Adelaide before. He's been to Sydney and Brisbane, so we thought we'd try something different with him," Hayes said.
More Racing News
Warnie flies late to win The Supernova 2025
With a composed ride inspired by Mark Zahra, jockey Thomas Stockdale steered Warnie to a breakthrough victory in the lucrative The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham. It was a signature moment for Stockdale, who delivered a tactically brilliant performance as the Ciaron Maher-trained runner stormed to victory in Southside Racing’s second slot...
Ingham triumph puts Yorkshire in 2026 Doncaster Mile mix
Tom Charlton may have been only five years old when John O’Shea secured the 2000 Villiers Stakes, but on Saturday the duo jointly celebrated Yorkshire’s commanding victory in the modern equivalent, The Ingham (1600m), at Randwick. The triumph delivered O’Shea a fourth win in the prestigious race and marked Charlton’s first...
Weeping Woman too good in the 2025 Razor Sharp Handicap
Joe Pride’s team fired on all cylinders on Saturday, with six runners producing two wins, three seconds and a third across three states, including a dominant stable quinella in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap at Randwick. Weeping Woman ($2.60 fav) finished strongest to overhaul Coal Crusher ($6), only 35 minutes after...
Taramansour provides locals with a win in the Pakenham Cup 2025
Taramansour produced a remarkable form reversal to hand Phillip Stokes his first victory in the Pakenham Cup, delivering an emotional local triumph. Stokes, who splits his time between his Morphettville operation and his Pakenham base, has had the Cup on his radar since establishing himself at the training centre in 2019. On...
Bargain buy Where’s The Circus dominates 2025 Inglis Nursery
Jean Van Overmeire made the right call in giving up a full provincial book at Newcastle to focus on a single Randwick mount, with Where’s The Circus landing a stunning upset in the Inglis Nursery. The filly, picked up online for just $1250, had impressed Van Overmeire when winning a recent...
Kris Lees sets sights on another summer strike
Kris Lees has frequently struck during Sydney’s summer feature program, and he will again field a strong hand across Randwick’s stakes races on Saturday. Lees’ achievements over the past decade include victories in The Ingham with Loch Eagle and Sense Of Occasion, as well as Razor Sharp Handicap wins with Special...
2025 Pakenham Cup: Browne’s roll the dice one more time
Emma-Lee and David Browne will “roll the dice” one more time with Statuario as they search for a fairytale hometown victory in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m). The Kiwi trainers shifted to Victoria in 2022 and settled into Pakenham last season, where a local Cup triumph would be particularly meaningful —...
Yorkshire out to make a summer statement in 2025 The Ingham
John O’Shea’s first major breakthrough as a solo trainer came 25 years ago when Grey And Gold captured the Villiers Stakes. He added another victory with On A High and later won the race again in its rebranded form as The Ingham (1600m) in 2022 with Kirwin’s Lane. Now a decorated horseman...
Fox on the hunt of 2025 The Supernova win
Emma-Lee and David Browne will “roll the dice” one more time with Statuario as they search for a fairytale hometown victory in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m). The Kiwi trainers shifted to Victoria in 2022 and settled into Pakenham last season, where a local Cup triumph would be particularly meaningful —...
Choice weather forecast for Litt duo in the 2025 Razor Sharp Handicap
Trainer Richard Litt is hoping Sydney’s pending wet weather plays directly into the hands of his runners Barber and Romeo’s Choice when they contest the Razor Sharp Handicap at Randwick. Both horses are expected to appreciate any give in the track, and Litt believes soft conditions could elevate Romeo’s Choice in...