David Hayes will attempt to further improve his tally of Melbourne winners this season when he saddles up five runners at Sandown on Saturday.
Hayes is still in a rebuilding phase at his new state-of-the-art Lindsay Park property at Euroa and believes his team will continue to pick up momentum as the season goes on.
He received a huge boost when he was given outstanding stayer Americain to prepare for the autumn and landed his eighth winner in Melbourne for the season when $21 chance Vintage Triumph won at Flemington last Saturday.
He has had nine winners in Sydney and 15 winners in Adelaide, sitting second on the premiership ladder there to Tony McEvoy (17).
“In Melbourne we’ve been a bit quiet, but I’d say we’ll gain momentum as the season goes on,” Hayes said.
“We won’t hit our top until next spring and my grass track won’t be established until then anyway.
“I would say this time next year we’ll be shaping up to be looking good.
“The Sydney experiment seems to be working well for me, and Adelaide’s been good too.”
“I’ve got a smaller string now. I’ve got 80 galloping and I used to have 180 galloping so it’s a big difference.
“I’ve purposely kept it small while I’ve been moving. I won’t get back to those numbers but I wouldn’t mind building it up to 100-odd again just to keep regular runners in three states.
“That’s the sort of number you need, plus another 40 in pre-training.”
Hayes starts his Sandown assault on Saturday with Spirit Of Carbine who makes her debut in the Swettenham Stud Dash For Cash Plate (900m).
The Danehill Dancer filly won a Tatura 850m barrier trial by 2-1/2 lengths on December 7.
“She trialled well and was untouched. The time (50.1 seconds) was okay but she wasn’t knocked around,” Hayes said.
Jockey Chris Symons has had his task made harder with the filly drawing the outside gate, 13.
Bay’s Edge runs in the Ladies In Racing Magazine Hcp (1000m) from barrier four with Brad Rawiller in the saddle and Hayes is looking for improvement from the three-year-old on her first-up 10th to Delegance over 1000m at Flemington on December 10.
“She disappointed at Flemington but went silly before the start and we’ve taken the blinkers off and hopefully that will settle her down a bit,” he said.
Zero To Sixty jumps from barrier one for Stephen Baster in the Le Pine Funerals Hcp (1300m).
The four-year-old resumed with a win in a Kyneton maiden (1212m) which was only his second start on December 6.
“Going up in class but a progressive sort of horse,” Hayes said.
Luke Nolen will have to overcome gate 12 of 13 on Mosse Diva in the Patinack Farm Hcp (1400m).
The daughter of Danzero improved sharply at her third start when she romped in by 5-1/4 lengths in a Warwick Farm three-year-old fillies maiden on December 7.
“She impressed at Warwick Farm and I expect her to run well,” Hayes said.
Last-start Flemington winner Token Of Honour drew barrier 11 of 16 in the D’Urban Hcp (1800m) and will have three-kilogram claiming apprentice Katelyn Mallyon aboard.
“It’s taken him a while while to win another one but he’s going well and looks well placed,” Hayes said.
AAP TURF
