The David Hayes stable may not have reached the same heights last season as it has in the past, but Lindsay Park is already preparing for a successful upcoming season.
Darren Lewis, racing administration manager for Lindsay Park, confirmed that they will have three contenders for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
“At this stage, we are looking at the Melbourne Cup with Gorky Park, Chartreux and Kibbutz, which is in the process of being transferred back to David,” Lewis said.
Gorky Park is an interesting proposition, having spent more than two years on the sidelines.
As a three year old, he was one of the top stayers of his age group, winning the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) and recording placings in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) behind Efficient and the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) behind Blutigeroo.
He came back as a four year old to win the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (3200m) by a widening five lengths in May 2008, but has not raced since.
Chartreux is a last start Group 1 winner, having won the Group 1 WATC Derby (2400m) in Perth in April.
Prior to that, he finished 2nd at Flemington over 2500m behind the smart Lloyd Williams stayer Rundle.
Kibbutz ran in last year’s Melbourne Cup, finishing a credible eighth for Warrnambool trainer Jarrod McLean.
He won the 2007 Victoria Derby for Hayes.
Lindsay Park has won three Melbourne Cups – two for Colin Hayes, Beldale Ball (1980) and At Talaq (1986), and one for David Hayes, Jeune (1994).
Written by Andrew Hawkins
