More mature Carbonados returns at Sandown in Manfred Stakes

The Lindsay Park stable, led by Ben, Will, and J.D. Hayes, is hopeful their talented but enigmatic galloper Carbonados can rediscover his form when he resumes in the Nick Johnstone Real Estate Handicap (1200m) at Sandown on Saturday.

Once a horse with lofty expectations, Carbonados made a stunning Australian debut with a win at Geelong just over a year ago. That performance earned him a shot at Group 3 level in the Manfred Stakes (1200m) at last year’s Australia Day meeting. However, his subsequent performances failed to live up to the hype, with a string of disappointing runs in higher-grade races.

After a series of inconsistent efforts, Carbonados finally broke through in easier company, claiming victory on the Pakenham Synthetic track in August before being spelled. Now, with a renewed focus and noticeable improvements in his demeanor, the Lindsay Park team is cautiously optimistic about his return.

Maturity and Mindset

Trainer Ben Hayes believes maturity could be the key to unlocking Carbonados' potential this campaign.

“With him, we’re hoping it’s a maturity thing,” Hayes said.

The gelding will resume wearing earmuffs to help him stay settled, a strategy that Hayes believes has shown promise in recent trials.

“In his trials this time in, I’ve thought he has been settling better,” Hayes said. “He was just starting to do that at the end of his campaign last time, so I think with time, and having one rider work with him and monitoring him, his mannerisms are improving.”

However, Hayes remains cautiously optimistic, acknowledging that the true test will come on race day.

“If he’s relaxed in the mounting yard and doing everything correctly, he’s a horse with high ability,” Hayes said. “It would be great to take those earmuffs off later in the prep.”

Aiming to Build Confidence

Saturday’s benchmark 74 race is a deliberate step back in class for Carbonados, as the stable looks to build his confidence and help him progress through the grades.

“He’s a city-class horse, and hopefully he can go through the grades this prep,” Hayes said. “We can have a bit of fun with him.”

Stablemate Vail Mountain

The Lindsay Park team also has Vail Mountain engaged in Saturday’s race, but the gelding has drawn the widest barrier in the 13-horse field. Hayes indicated they are considering scratching Vail Mountain and saving him for another race.

“We’ll have a good look at the race and see if it is worthwhile running or not, but there is an option to run him at Sandown on Wednesday,” Hayes said.

A New Chapter

For Carbonados, Saturday marks the beginning of a fresh chapter, with the Lindsay Park team hopeful he can finally deliver on his early promise. If he can settle and showcase his natural ability, Carbonados could quickly become a horse to follow in the weeks ahead.