Stoli Bolli out to turn fortunes around in McKenzie Stakes

The Lindsay Park stable of Ben, Will and J D Hayes hope to get one back on a rival Cranbourne stable when Stoli Bolli lines up in a Stakes race at Moonee Valley.

Stoli Bolli chased home the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Daggers at Moonee Valley on August 24 and in the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on Saturday the gelding has to tackle that colt’s unbeaten stablemate Epimeles.

Daggers and Epimeles are unbeaten in their two starts for Busuttin and Young and the Lindsay Park boys are banking on race fitness being to their advantage on Saturday.

Epimeles is resuming on Saturday, having not raced since April, while Stoli Bolli will be having the third run of his campaign.

Stoli Bolli has drawn the outside gate on Saturday, a barrier that is of little concern to Ben Hayes.

“I thought he was fantastic last time and deserves his shot at Black Type,” Hayes said.

“He missed the start and then got a bit keen and was then unlucky and I think if he had of had clear running, he would have pushed the winner.

“I don’t know if he would have won, but he would have pushed it, and that winner is pretty good.

“He’s drawn a better gate this time and hopefully we’ll be able to have him a little bit closer without missing the start and if he relaxes, he’ll have that good turn of foot.

“He’s third-up and ready to go and we’re confident that he can be competitive at Stakes level.

“He deserves his opportunity.”

Stoli Bolli showed a touch of class in his debut win at Geelong in early August before bumping into Daggers at Moonee Valley.

Hayes said he has seen what Epimeles is capable of having witnessed him back in April, but that galloper now must reproduce it the spring.

“Everyone has opinions of their horses at this time of year, so you have to race them against each other to find out which is the best one,” Hayes said.