Motorace set to drive home Adelaide win
The Lindsay Park stable of Ben, Will and JD Hayes has hit the ground running in the early part of the new season and will look to add a win in Adelaide to their tally on Saturday.
The Hayes boys sit at the top of the Australian Trainers’ Premiership with 17 winners after the first two weeks of the season, leading the behemoth that is the Ciaron Maher stable by one victory.
Lindsay Park came out of the blocks early after being stranded on 199 wins last season and are sending Motorace to Morphettville Parks on Saturday looking to build their tally.
Motorace runs in the PFD Food Services Handicap (2250m) having been scratched from a 2100m contest at Sandown on Wednesday.
Ben Hayes said he and his brothers had been put off by an improving track at Sandown and thought with rain forecast in Adelaide that was the better option.
“We’ve been trying to find the right race for him, and I think we have over in Adelaide,” Hayes said.
“He’s drawn well there and hopefully he can get that win as he’s gone close on a few occasions, but he needs a bit of cut in the ground.
“At Sandown, it ended up a Good 3, so we thought we’d pull him out and there is a bit of a chance of some rain over in Adelaide.
“He’s deep into his prep, so it’s probably the right time to travel and it looks a good race for him.”
Motorace scored successive wins at Albury and Cranbourne last November when with Ben Brisbourne who took a punt on tackling Stakes races in Tasmania earlier in the year.
Since transferring to the Lindsay Park operation, Motorace has steadily improved his form as the races have got longer, finishing second over 2100m at Sandown on July 17 before a last start fourth over 2400m at that track on July 31.
“He won’t be lacking fitness wise,” Hayes said.
Lindsay Park has decided to keep Beast Mode in Melbourne to run in the Quayclean Handicap (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday having also been an acceptor in the Sportsbet Same Race Multi Handicap (1000m) at Morphettville Parks and in the James Squire Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill.
“We’re basically trying to find the most winnable race,” Hayes said.
“He was drawn a bit awkwardly in Sydney and Adelaide and he’s drawn OK in Melbourne, so we’ve elected to stay in Melbourne with him.”
More Racing News
Autumn Glow's flawless Sydney spring culminates in King Charles triumph
Autumn Glow smoothly assumed the lead in the prestigious Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) as the field turned for home, just as Ceolwulf began to mount a challenge.Trainer Chris Waller reportedly turned to jockey Darren Beadman and inquired, "Are we in trouble?" Beadman's swift reply was,...
Gavin Bedggood celebrates biggest win as Kingswood triumphs in Caulfield Cup
Trainer Gavin Bedggood has achieved his career-defining success with Kingswood winning the Caulfield Cup.The Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday was claimed by the UK-bred import Kingswood, marking Bedggood's most significant achievement, eclipsing his previous best in the 2024 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley.Bedggood, who was a proficient jumps...
Apocalyptic finds her best form in the Silver Eagle
While it was a supporting event on The Everest undercard, Apocalyptic's triumphant return to the winner's circle on Saturday was a considerable achievement for trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Tommy Berry.The mare, a Group 1 victor of last year's Flight Stakes, had been underperforming in the autumn and her initial...
War Machine back in winning form at Caulfield
A great deal has transpired for War Machine over the past twelve months.On the equivalent weekend last year, the horse trained by Ben, Will, and Jd Hayes, War Machine, was competing in Sydney for The Everest.While the results didn't align with the Lindsay Park trainers' aspirations, War Machine had entered...
Saintly Dancer's Thousand Guineas triumph highlights Shinn's comeback
Jockey Blake Shinn has celebrated his first Group 1 win since recovering from a significant leg injury, as Saintly Dancer dictated terms from the front to capture the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.Shinn endured a fractured leg from a fall during last year's Melbourne Cup and made his return to competitive...
Chains Of Love's stunning Kosciuszko win defies the odds
In a truly remarkable turn of events, Chains Of Love, despite her challenging draw and a run wide for the entirety of the race, managed to surge past Band Of Brothers in a thrilling conclusion.This victory marks a consecutive win in The Kosciuszko for the training partnership of Paul Messara...
Grafterburners triumphs in Sydney Stakes after declining Everest start
Kelly Schweida, the trainer, has disclosed that he declined an offer for an Everest slot for Grafterburners to focus on its $2 million consolation race. This decision has proven to be a masterstroke, as the colt has claimed a thrilling Sydney Stakes victory at Randwick.The Queensland trainer felt his charge...
So You Are books Melbourne Cup ticket after St Leger triumph
The connections of improving stayer So You Are can celebrate a successful outcome, as the horse has overcome a pre-race incident to position itself favourably for a Melbourne Cup start.In Saturday's St Leger Stakes (2600m) at Randwick, the Bjorn Baker-trained $3.30 favourite, ridden by Tommy Berry, demonstrated resilience to fend...
Caulfield Classic and Ethereal Stakes Produce New Classic Hopefuls
The complexion of the Spring Carnival's two major Group 1 Classics was altered on Saturday with the emergence of two significant new players at Caulfield.King Snitz has propelled himself into Victoria Derby calculations following a last-stride triumph in the Caulfield Classic, while Quick Finish has climbed the Oaks betting charts...
Harry Charlton optimistic about Wine Dark Sea's Caulfield Cup chances
Upon his arrival in Australia, UK trainer Harry Charlton immediately made his way to Werribee to assess his Caulfield Cup contender, Wine Dark Sea.This marks Charlton's first venture training a horse in Australia, although he has drawn on the expertise of his brother Tom, a co-trainer with John O'Shea in...