Arkansaw Kid ready to step up

Group 1 victory has to this point eluded Arkansaw Kid, but co-trainer Ben Hayes remains hopeful that the Blue Diamond placegetter can again be a force at the highest level.

The remainder of the Harry Angel four-year-old’s career will be carried out as a gelding, which Hayes expects to bring out the best in him.

Arkansaw Kid won an 800-metre Flemington jumpout on Friday morning, his second serious hitout of the campaign, with Hayes buoyed by reports from top jockey Mark Zahra, who rode him three times last season, including his Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) second placing.

“Mark Zahra said he’s a different horse as a gelding and we’re very happy with him,” Hayes said.

“I think he’s got the ability to be able to do it (at Group 1 level) and I really feel as a gelding there’ll be a big change in him.”

Arkansaw Kid won the $500,000 Inglis Banner (1000m) on debut, with his other win coming in the Listed Gothic Stakes (1200m), while he owns a Blue Diamond (1200m) third placing and a Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) fourth at Group 1 level.

Hayes and his co-trainer brothers Will and JD are likely to launch Arkansaw Kid’s campaign in this Saturday’s $175,000 Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield but they are open to stepping him up in grade if he justifies the faith of the Lindsay Park trainers.

“We’ve always really liked him, he’s just a good-looking horse, he’s got a good physique on him and he’s got the ability,” he said.

“He’s shown ability at home and he’s converted it to the racetrack as well.

“He’s now a gelding, he’s got a lot of racing left in him and they can improve (once gelded).”