Marble Arch earns Lord Stakes opportunity
The team at Lindsay Park was reluctant to label the Lord Stakes a target race for Marble Arch earlier in the campaign, but it has been full steam ahead to the Boxing Day feature ever since December 14.
That was when the daughter of Per Incanto booked her spot in the $175,000 Listed event with a soft win over the progressive Warnie at the Caulfield Heath track.
The five-year-old returns to the same venue for Thursday’s 1600-metre event.
“She certainly had to win that race to put her hand up for a race like this,” JD Hayes, who trains in partnership with brothers Ben and Will, said.
“It was something that we were hoping to get her to, but she booked her own ticket there and I think this is a lovely race for her.
“She’s trained on nicely out of the race, she’s just been ticking over healthy and happy at home, so hopefully it’s a rinse and repeat-type performance.”
The Lord Stakes is a co-feature on a program that has been brought forward to due extreme heat with the first of eight races now scheduled for 11.15am.
The Lord Stakes, the second-last race at 2.25pm, will be Marble Arch’s first start in Stakes grade since finishing seventh in the Listed Black Pearl Stakes (1200m) at Geelong almost 12 months ago.
Her only other start at Black Type level was a sixth in the Listed Bendigo Guineas (1600m) in April last year.
The Kiwi mare had won her three starts before that in a dominant debut Australian campaign, when she looked destined to be a Stakes-grade regular, and while that hasn’t happened Hayes haven’t given up hope that it will in the future.
“She unfortunately got ulcers in her second preparation, so we had to turn her out and be patient,” Hayes said.
“The owners have given her every opportunity and we’re just glad to see her back in as rich a vein of form as what she was when she first came onto the scene.
“She still got plenty of racing ahead of her and hopefully plenty of Black Type to come.”
Marble Arch has the services of in-form jockey Daniel Stackhouse in Lord Stakes, in which she is $4.60 second favourite behind Riot And Rose ($2.90) after drawing the inside barrier.
More Racing News
Extragalactic's Flemington mission in McEwen Stakes
While many in the racing world will lament the closure of the old Moonee Valley track, trainer Trent Edmonds isn't lamenting the timing of its renovation.This Saturday marks the first Cox Plate meeting to be held away from 'The Valley', and Edmonds is set to be at Flemington with Extragalactic,...
Blind Raise's faith rewarded with Cox Plate start
Trent Busuttin is aware that if the primary goal was to secure a Group 1 victory, the more prudent strategy would be to send Blind Raise to Sydney for this Saturday's Spring Champion Stakes.Nevertheless, he also recognises that the type of opportunity that has arisen this year is not a...
Caulfield Cup fall victim Half Yours is back home and doing well
Good news has emerged regarding the riders involved in the Caulfield Cup, with the Victorian Jockeys Association reporting both have been discharged from hospital.Mark Zahra and Jye McNeil were transported to the Alfred Hospital after a dramatic fall during the Caulfield Cup on Saturday.The sequence of events saw Half Yours,...
Mr Brightside's Flemington Mile participation uncertain
The Lindsay Park training outfit, comprising Ben, Will, and J D Hayes, will hold off on confirming Mr Brightside's start at Flemington until the acceptance stage.Mr Brightside is expected to be nominated for the Group 2 Kia Ora Stud Mile (1600m) this Saturday, though Ben Hayes indicated he is only...
Warwoven's Cox Plate Prospects to be Decided by King's Ride
Melbourne's racing scene is abuzz as Sydney jockey Rachel King prepares to reunite with Warwoven for a crucial track gallop. This workout is designed to give the final go-ahead for the Bjorn Baker-trained colt's potential entry into the esteemed Cox Plate at Flemington.King, who celebrated a Caulfield Guineas victory aboard...
Infancy's The Invitation prospects while in foal
Dual stakes winner Infancy is eagerly awaiting a potential start in the $2 million The Invitation at Randwick, a race that could significantly boost her career accolades before she transitions to her role as a broodmare.The six-year-old mare has recently been served by the promising young sire Anamoe. Her trainer,...
Tempted claims The Everest crown in thrilling renewal
The tenth running of The Everest delivered a familiar outcome at the top but with a new champion crowned, as Tempted outdueled Ka Ying Rising before a record-breaking crowd of 52,110.For trainer Ciaron Maher, this victory represents his second success in The Everest, building on Bella Nipotina's triumph in 2024....
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...