Apulia and Plymouth carry Lindsay Park hopes into Blamey Stakes

The Lindsay Park operation accomplished their summer objectives courtesy of Apulia and have turned their focus toward autumn pursuits.

Stablemates Apulia and Plymouth line up for the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday, a race that Ben, Will and J D Hayes envision as a stepping stone to the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at the same track on March 28.

Apulia, who finished second in the Victoria Derby as a three-year-old, was meticulously prepared for the Perth Summer Carnival, culminating in success in the Group 2 Perth Cup for the gelding.

After spending a year out due to injury, Apulia re-emerged last spring with victories in successive events at Moonee Valley and Flemington, then traveled to Perth.

Post a midfield effort in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes, the gelding took the Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m), a key Perth Cup trial, before his triumph in the Perth Cup (2400m) on January 1.

Ahead of Saturday's return, Apulia trialed at Flemington last week, with Ben Hayes expressing contentment with the workout.

"He's got good residual fitness from his trip to Perth, and we've kept him happy since he's been back," Hayes said.

"He had a good hit-out on the course proper last week in the jump-out where he was good through the line, and it showed he is on track.

"The mile will be at the shorter end for him, but he has won good races over that track and trip previously, so he can run well fresh.

"He was a fantastic three-year-old, but we just had to be on the patient side since with an injury and he's come back great.

"He nearly won a Derby, he was a centimetre away, and it's great to have him back."

According to Hayes, Apulia's probable next outing is the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) on March 14, building toward the Australian Cup.

The same autumn goals beckon for Plymouth, with Hayes and brothers pleased by the gelding's fresh-up performance, a fast-finishing fourth to Tom Kitten in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 7.

This marked Plymouth's initial run since spring, when he won the Benalla Cup and was runner-up in the Caulfield Cup.

"He was a great run first-up in the Kevin Heffernan and he's on a similar path to the Australian Cup," Hayes said.

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