Lindsay Park duo out to break run of outs in Wakeful Stakes 2025

Lindsay Park is aiming to recapture past success in the Wakeful Stakes at Flemington, a race that has eluded the stable since 2000.

Back when Peter Hayes was at the helm, Lolita Star delivered the stable their most recent Wakeful triumph, and now the next Hayes generation—Ben, Will and JD—will look to Ethereum Girl and Perfect Night to break the extended run of outs.

The Wakeful Stakes has long served as a crucial stepping stone to the VRC Oaks, with many fillies backing up successfully, including Treasurethe Moment last year.

Ethereum Girl enters the race third-up, having shown promise in both the Thousand Guineas Prelude and the Group 1 Thousand Guineas.

Ben Hayes said the tempo didn’t help her last outing. “She was only second up into the Thousand Guineas and that race shape probably didn’t suit her when they walked and sprinted home,” Hayes said.

“She’s stepping up to the 2000 (metres). She’s third up now and we’ve always wanted to get her out in trip.

“If she’s able to run well, or win, then we would definitely consider the Oaks.”

Perfect Night, meanwhile, has been crying out for distance and was luckless at Bendigo last start.

“She’s a maiden filly that is needing ground and at her last start was desperately unlucky,” Hayes said.

“She does look like she’s needing the 2000 (metres), so we thought we’d have a throw at the stumps with her.”