Speedy pair cross paths in the Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap
The Lindsay Park team, led by Ben, Will, and J D Hayes, is hoping their two sprinters, Joyful Fortune and Acromantula, won't cause any issues for each other in a Stakes race at Flemington.
Both will meet in the Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) on Saturday, with each horse drawing opposite sides of the track for the Flemington straight sprint.
Joyful Fortune has barrier two, while Acromantula will start from barrier 10.
“Thankfully, they’ve drawn on opposite sides because they both like to bowl, so hopefully, they won’t take each other on and can go one-two,” Ben Hayes said.
Joyful Fortune will be making his third appearance for Lindsay Park.
The eight-year-old sprinter’s career has been hampered by injuries, limiting him to just 12 starts.
Starting out in Hong Kong, where he won twice in 2020 and 2021, Joyful Fortune later returned to Australia and was trained by Mark Newnham for two races at Flemington in 2022.
When Newnham moved to Hong Kong, Joyful Fortune was placed under the care of Ciaron Maher before being transferred to Lindsay Park last year.
Hayes explained that considerable effort went into getting Joyful Fortune back into racing, with the sprinter finishing third in the Group 3 Standish Handicap and then finishing last in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes.
“We gave him a shot at the Lightning, but he found them too tough, and now he’s back in class,” Hayes said.
“He requires a lot of management. He had to be cleared to race here in Victoria, which wasn’t easy.
“He’s been training at Pakenham because of the excellent facilities. They have great flat tracks and grass access, including that good back grass.
“He was very impressive for us down the straight, and I believe he’s found a race where he should perform well, following a solid trial where he worked really well.
“He’s sound and moving well.”
Acromantula, a former sprinter from Perth, will make his second start for Lindsay Park and his first race down the Flemington straight.
Like his stablemate, Acromantula is trained at Pakenham.
“He’s a horse that needs everything to go right for him,” Hayes said.
“He’s a very good fresh horse. He was superb at The Valley, getting away fast and finding a good rhythm.
“He’s trialled well, and I believe he’ll sprint well fresh.”
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