Lindsay Park targets Carlyon Stakes with Beast Mode

Lindsay Park anticipates that the reduced weight will benefit Beast Mode as he prepares to compete in the Carlyon Stakes at Sandown.

The trainers' preference would have been for Beast Mode to race at Moonee Valley in the Group 3 Carlyon Stakes.

However, due to Moonee Valley's ongoing redevelopment, which will keep it closed for approximately another twelve months, the 1000-metre sprint for the Carlyon Stakes will be conducted on Sandown's Hillside track this year.

The Lindsay Park training partnership of Ben, Will, and J D Hayes has Beast Mode in strong form. Ben Hayes conveyed the team's significant disappointment that the race would not be held at Moonee Valley, the venue of Beast Mode's two most recent wins.

"It was the perfect track for him," Ben Hayes said.

While Moonee Valley might be the ideal venue for the sprinter, Beast Mode does possess winning form at Sandown over the 1000-metre distance.

Across four starts at the track and trip, Beast Mode has finished without a place only once.

Hayes indicated that the downhill section of the Sandown track suits Beast Mode.

"He's a fast horse, so let fast horses be fast," Hayes explained.

"He can get rolling early and I reckon he can run well.

"We're happy with him."

The Carlyon Stakes has been elevated from Listed status to Group 3 for this year's renewal.

The two horses that won the race previously, Baraqiel and Mornington Glory, subsequently went on to win the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m).

The Moir Stakes is also being held at Sandown this year, two weeks after Saturday's event, and could be a future consideration for Beast Mode.

But the immediate focus is on the Carlyon Stakes, particularly after the sprinter's last run in Sydney where he carried 61kg and finished third.

Beast Mode will carry 57kg in Saturday's race.

"He ran super," Hayes commented on the Sydney performance.

"He got run over late. He was a month between runs, no trial.

"This time it's two weeks into the Carlyon, plus he gets a little drop in weight."

Beast Mode has drawn barrier three and will be ridden by Blake Shinn.

Consider exploring various Australian betting sites for the best racing betting markets on the Carlyon Stakes.