Bendigo Guineas trip ideal for Lindsay Park pair

Ben Hayes is optimistic that varying distances will suit both Lindsay Park runners lining up in the Bendigo Guineas this Saturday, with Double Market expected to improve up in trip and Ndola dropping back to his preferred distance.

Double Market is set to have her second start this campaign after a below-par showing in the Group 3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes (1200m), where she struggled to make ground on a heavy Moonee Valley surface.

“She was well short of her trip first-up and because she did so well last prep she’s kicked off in Stakes grade,” Hayes said.

“She’s come on from the run and her work has been excellent.

“With the step up to 1400 metres, you will see a big improvement.”

The promising filly, a winner of the Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic (1600m) on Cox Plate Day, enters the Guineas as a $41 outsider, with stablemate Ndola sitting at $4.40.

Ndola’s recent form includes a third-place finish in the VOBIS Gold Reef and a ninth in the Group 1 Australian Guineas, both over a mile. The team is now convinced his best performances are over shorter trips.

“He loomed up to win that race, but he just peaked on his run,” Hayes said of the last-start performance.

“We’ve tried him twice at a mile and both times he hasn’t quite finished off, so I think dropping back to 1400 metres will be suitable for him.

“The horse is in fantastic order. We’ve got a good opinion of him, but he may be a sprinter, 1400-metre horse and we’ll train him like that now.”

Regular rider Luke Currie will guide Ndola from gate four, while Michael Dee takes over the reins on Double Market, who has drawn barrier seven in the reduced field of 11.