Flemington next for Stealth Of Night
While Will Hayes is confident Stealth Of Night possesses the talent to progress beyond benchmark level, the immediate goal is to continue taking advantage of her current form.
The daughter of Night Of Thunder is set to contest the $130,000 Benchmark 74 over 1400 metres on Saturday at Flemington.
Raced by Trilogy Racing, Stealth Of Night is chasing a winning hat-trick after claiming back-to-back Benchmark 70 races at Sandown in December, and Hayes, who trains alongside brothers Ben and JD, believes she is continuing to improve.
“She’s a very exciting mare, she’s obviously had quite an intensive injury history previous to this preparation and it’s just taken time to get it back to where she needs to be,” Hayes said.
“She’s been very tough the way that she’s won at Sandown, doing all the work from wide gates and then lifting herself off the canvas and putting them away.
“The way that she’s been winning in the benchmark races suggests he has a very good ability to progress.”
Stealth Of Night’s most recent Sandown victory under Craig Williams saw her rating lifted to 78, meaning she will carry 60kg this weekend, although Hayes said the team is considering engaging apprentice Jackson Radley and using his 3kg claim.
Her only other appearance this preparation produced a narrow first-up second at Cranbourne on Cup Day, while earlier in 2025 she recorded two wins at Pakenham during the autumn.
Those performances followed a 15-month layoff after her debut run, where she finished second in a Geelong maiden in December 2023, and Hayes said it has been rewarding to finally build continuity into her racing.
Markets are open with major betting platforms for the Flemington Benchmark 74, giving punters a range of options ahead of the weekend feature.
“Because she missed so much of her racing life being injured, we did go the conservative approach, to build her through the grades, but she has good ability and now she’s really coping with every challenge we give her,” he said.
The post Flemington next for Stealth Of Night first appeared on Just Horse Racing.
More Racing News
Lockwood's filly Extreme Taste faces draw challenge
Trainer Barry Lockwood initially commented that there wasn't much to say about his filly Extreme Taste "because she hasn't won yet," but upon further discussion, he is considerably more positive about her chances of success at Ipswich on Wednesday.Extreme Taste, a maiden after three starts, is set to compete in...
Sir Les refining his racecraft under Carmody's guidance
Craig Carmody is diligently working with promising three-year-old Sir Les, aiming to harness the gelding's natural talent, a skill he witnessed with the horse's dam, Everage, who also achieved stakes success.Sir Les, by All Too Hard, displayed impressive form winning his first two outings before a narrow fifth-place finish in...
Tennessee Bound to bypass Caulfield for Sandown assignment
While Tennessee Bound would likely be a leading contender for favouritism in the Caulfield race she is entered for, trainer Ciaron Maher is intent on continuing his measured approach with the undefeated mare.Consequently, the four-year-old is expected to make her next start in Wednesday's 1200-metre Evergreen Turf Handicap at Sandown.The...
Bellatrix Star's comeback looms in the Sir John Monash Stakes
Mark Walker is proceeding with caution regarding the return of the classy mare Bellatrix Star, based on his experiences with her over the past two seasons.This Saturday, the mare is expected to make her reappearance in the $200,000 Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield.The 1100-metre weight-for-age race will...
Hard Kick's preparation for major spring sprint begins
The traditional winter period typically isn't a springboard for success in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, but the Lindsay Park training team is pinning its hopes on Hard Kick.The unexposed gelding is poised to commence a campaign that has its sights set on the lucrative $2 million Group 1 sprint for...
Music Time set for Kosciuszko path in spring
Trainer Gratz Vella has confirmed that Music Time will be pointed towards The Kosciuszko during the Sydney spring carnival, foregoing the Group 1 Golden Rose for three-year-olds.Vella highlighted the irresistible appeal of The Kosciuszko for country trainers and indicated that the Golden Slipper placegetter might be better suited to the...
Tim Clark sees great potential in By Choice's return
Despite Tulloch Lodge's usual high benchmarks, their two-year-old season has been somewhat subdued. Nevertheless, their primary stable jockey, Tim Clark, anticipates that the current crop of youngsters will more than make up for lost ground as they transition to three-year-old racing.Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have seen 14 juvenile winners...
Sheza Alibi's move back to Pakenham imminent
The serious phase of training is fast approaching for Sheza Alibi.The exciting filly is drawing near the end of her northern sojourn in Queensland and will soon be repatriated to the Pakenham stable operated by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.The daughter of Saxon Warrior journeyed north following her stunning victory...
Cellarmaster triumphs in a tight finish to claim the Winx Guineas
In a thrilling conclusion, Cellarmaster ($5.50) narrowly pipped Platinum Pantheon ($6.50) at the post, with Rustemo ($8.50) trailing in third, more than a length adrift.Leading bookmakers noted Cellarmaster's winning dividend at $5.50, while the favoured runner Within The Law ($2.60) failed to live up to expectations despite being heavily supported.The...
James Healy celebrates first stakes win with Arabian Rose in Glasshouse Handicap
Sunshine Coast trainer James Healy has secured his maiden stakes victory thanks to the unheralded mare Arabian Rose, who triumphed in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap on her home track at Caloundra.Initially listed as the third emergency when final acceptors were declared, Arabian Rose's place in the field was uncertain, with...