Lindsay Park's Triple Threat for Aurie's Star Handicap

Lindsay Park is poised to unleash a powerful three-pronged assault on this Saturday's Aurie's Star Handicap at Flemington. A significant highlight of the day will be the return of champion jockey Blake Shinn, who is scheduled to ride War Machine. This marks Shinn's first race appearance since sustaining a serious injury on Melbourne Cup Day.

Complementing the team, Mark Zahra returns from his summer break to partner Arkansaw Kid, who recently competed in the Royal Ascot carnival. Jye McNeil is also set to ride, taking the reins on Ndola, a horse coming off a recent victory. This trio represents Lindsay Park's ambitions for the race.

The stable is eager to claim their first Aurie's Star Handicap title since So Si Bon's win in the Group 3 event in 2019, under the training guidance of David Hayes, Ben Hayes, and Tom Dabernig.

Ben Hayes shared insights into the jockey selections, revealing that Shinn himself chose to ride War Machine after partnering both stable contenders in jump-outs at Flemington last Friday. “He rode them both in jump-outs last Friday and I don't think there's much between them,” Hayes confirmed. “He knows War Machine well and he's going back to his old buddy.”

War Machine's last start saw him finish third in the prestigious Newmarket Handicap, run down the Flemington straight in March. According to Hayes, the gelding has thrived from an extended period of rest following a demanding racing campaign that commenced when he joined the stable in April last year.

“He lost his way a bit last preparation,” Hayes elaborated. “He had a long prep. He went to Queensland, freshened, came back, went to The Everest, came back, but just didn't come up in the autumn. He had a long break, and he seems to have come back really well. His work at home has been great and seems a happier horse. He's enjoying his trackwork, so hopefully that converts to some good runs.”

Arkansaw Kid has followed a distinct preparation path, spending time at Lindsay Park's Euroa facility and Pakenham before recent jump-out sessions at Traralgon and Flemington. “We changed things around with him to keep him thinking,” Hayes said. “He's been in work a long time, so it was like changing stables, without changing stables. I thought his Traralgon jump-out was good, his jump-out on Friday was great and he's always been a consistent, good horse for the stable and is a horse we all love. He's good down the straight, he's won a couple of Bobbie Lewis Qualities, so he knows what he's doing.”

Ndola heads into Saturday's main event in winning form, having taken out the Listed Santa Ana Lane Series Final first-up on July 4. He then went on to defeat War Machine in a jump-out last week. Hayes mentioned that this trial was specifically arranged to keep the gelding sharp during the four-week gap between races.

“He was good fresh when he got away with murder in front and they couldn't catch him,” Hayes elaborated. “It's a step up in class and he's running against some very good horses, but he deserves to be there.”

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