Apulia carries Lindsay Park hopes into Australian Cup
Apulia represents Lindsay Park's bid to build on their strong legacy in the Australian Cup during the 2000m showdown set for Saturday.
Previous winning connections include Colin Hayes, David Hayes, Peter Hayes, Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig for the Australian Cup, with Will and J D Hayes now eager to inscribe their names on Saturday.
Apulia, saddled by Ben, Will and J D Hayes, enters the Group 1 race poised for a potential shock result.
Past Australian Cup fields have seen outsiders prevail, such as Dandy Andy (1988), Roman Arch ($51, 2006), and Harlem's consecutive victories in 2018 ($61) and 2019 ($31), contributing to Ben Hayes' first pair of his three race wins shared with David Hayes and Dabernig.
Set to start at $10 on Saturday – tighter than Harlem – Apulia benefits from a solid recent trend for double-figure chances in the Australian Cup.
According to Ben Hayes, Apulia is primed for Saturday's test, partnered again by William Pike, who secured back-to-back Perth successes for him in the summer campaign, highlighted by the Perth Cup (2400m) on New Year's Day.
Post-Perth, Apulia placed fifth to Birdman in Flemington's Blamey Stakes (1600m) last month, followed by a near-miss second to Birdman in Caulfield's Peter Young Stakes (1800m) on March 14.
The blinkers are reapplied to Apulia ahead of Saturday.
"He hasn't worn the headgear for a while, so we've put a set of blinkers on which may give us the extra couple of lengths that we need to catch Birdman," Hayes said.
"I thought we ran well behind him at Caulfield. He had the easier run than us, as we had to go wide.
"He's there to peak on Saturday. He loves Flemington and I think the 2000 metres is what he's looking for.
"I think 2400 is his best trip with his win in the Perth Cup, and he was dominant, but at 2000, he'll still be sharp enough and will be competitive.
"We're hopeful and I think he's a genuine top three chance in an Australian Cup, and it has been a good race to us over the years."
Tom Kitten lurks at $4.20 behind market leader Birdman ($3.70).
Explore online bookmakers offering strong Australian Cup options.
More Racing News
Thrilling Takeover Target Stakes goes to King Of Roseau
Peter Snowden, champion handler, lauded the grit and hunger for victory shown by King Of Roseau in the pulsating end to the Listed $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) held at Gosford on Saturday."I could see the horse on his inside (Harry's Yacht) making his run with King Of Roseau but...
Dominant Ken Russell Memorial Classic win for $2.7m colt St Gotthard
St Gotthard validated his hefty $2.7 million tag by delivering a spectacular performance to claim the Group 3 $200,000 Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) at Gold Coast on Saturday.Under trainer Chris Waller, the youngster was on his second race appearance and extended his flawless slate by drawing away from competitors.James...
Caulfield debut success sends Natural Fling to Queensland riches
Natural Fling, fresh from her winning debut, will chase Queensland targets including a valuable juvenile contest after her Caulfield triumph.Trained by the Tony and Calvin McEvoy combination, the filly was a strong market fancy to win the Sportsbet Feed Handicap (1100m) and she set the pace all the way in...
Gosford juvenile win highlights I Am Dirty's promise
Following her standout performance in The Coast Raceday 2yo Handicap (1200m) at Gosford on Saturday, I Am Dirty might pursue the Group 1 route triumphantly followed by yard companions Overpass and Green Spaces.Bjorn Baker, the trainer, is convinced of I Am Dirty's growing capabilities, yet he hesitates on whether to...
Bossy Nic hoping for soft track in Adelaide stakes
Tony and Calvin McEvoy's stable anticipates that softer going will favour Bossy Nic in her Morphettville assignment.The mare is entered in Saturday's Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m), seeking to notch up yet another Stakes win.The training pair weighed up the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) on the same card...
Gosford Gold Cup result to dictate Maison Louis' winter plans
After claiming the Queensland Derby, Maison Louis produced his top effort of the spring on his second outing post-spell, and handler Tom Charlton seeks an equivalent performance from the four-year-old at Gosford.Heading into Saturday's Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m), the gelding builds on an impressive fresh run, finishing a fast-closing...
Caulfield race sees blinkers on Plymouth
Lindsay Park trainers weighed multiple choices for Plymouth over the past few days, but opting to stick with 2000 metres sends the horse to Caulfield.This four-year-old gelding by The Autumn Sun was nominated for the 2350m Warrnambool Cup on Thursday and accepted into Saturday's 2100m Gosford Gold Cup, though he...
Snowden eyes lucrative prep for consistent King Of Roseau
Added maturity plus a strategy favouring freshness has lifted King Of Roseau to sustained form over the previous year, leaving trainer Peter Snowden certain the quick runner is geared up for rewarding races soon.After placing second in a benchmark contest during last year's matching Gosford card, King Of Roseau has...
Caulfield raid planned for Wagga victor Jarbardar
Trainer Craig Widdison from the border region anticipates that prior racing success will aid Jarbardar in his Caulfield appearance.Securing a debut triumph at Wagga a month ago, the two-year-old gelding is primed for the Sportsbet Feed Handicap (1100m) this Saturday.The handler also nominated the youngster for the Group 3 David...
Record-breaking $5.6m sale for Chayan at Inglis Chairman's Sale
As the concluding entry among the elite lots, Chayan proved well worth the patience, shattering multiple records at Inglis's Chairman's Sale in Sydney Thursday night.This two-year-old I Am Invincible filly, who claimed this season's Group 2 Reisling Stakes and was favourite for the Golden Slipper, went to Coolmore's Tom Magnier...