Team Hayes has cornered the market for Flemington Finals Day contenders, with Sneaky Sunrise and Aztec State among potential spring aspirants in action.
Following back-to-back wins at Flemington, Sneaky Sunrise has emerged as a possible VRC Oaks or Thousand Guineas candidate. The filly, by The Autumn Sun, is slated for Saturday’s Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m), with Aztec State heading to the Mahogany Series Final (2500m).
Stablemate Le Ferrari is aimed at the Listed Winter Championship Final (1600m) and Crosshaven will run in the Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m).
The Ben, JD and Will Hayes-trained quartet all saluted at Flemington two weeks’ ago – the brothers’ first metropolitan four-timer.
“They all ran to market expectation, which is good, and that’s what you hope could happen, a big effort by the whole team and everyone had a big thrill, I assure you,” Ben Hayes said.
“They’re all in the right races (on Saturday), hopefully weather conditions, barriers, luck in running, it all matters, there’s lots of reasons to lose a race.”
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Hayes has reserved a call on Sneaky Sunrise’s spring target until after the Taj Rossi.
“Sneaky has been fresh as anything, she’ll love the mile,” Hayes said.
“If she wins she’ll be freshened for the spring … Oaks or Thousand Guineas. I think she’ll be a good miler but we’ll see.
“She’s got speed and she’s quite strong, but we got to see how she runs and we’ll make that decision after she runs.”
Aztec State was equally impressive winning a fortnight ago.
The three-year-old stayer won four starts back at Caulfield and placed fifth in subsequent starts as the Hayes brothers tinkered with blinkers and winkers.
The removal of headgear worked a treat last start with the Pierro gelding an impressive winner, his second at 2000m.
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“I really, really like him,” Hayes said.
“I’ve been wanting to get him out to this trip for a long time and just not had the opportunity, through soundness and other issues.
“It’s a good opportunity to see him run at the trip (2500m) because I think he’s a horse to watch in the future, he’s only going to improve.”
Le Ferrari has earned a shot at the Winter Championship, having won two of his past three.
“He’s been in work a long time, we just freshened him, he’s a Toronado and improved, he’s been lucky with the weather, hates wet tracks,” Hayes said.
“He’s had a lot of luck on good surfaces.”
Hayes said Jenni’s Meadow (Taj Rossi), Apparatus (Listed Creswick Stakes) and Rise At Dawn (Silver Bowl Series Final) would also feature at Flemington on Saturday.