The Lindsay Park stable under the guidance of Ben and J D Hayes is hopeful some rounds of schooling has sparked Port Guillaume into winning form at Flemington.
The French-bred galloper heads to Flemington on Saturday to contest VRC Members Handicap (2000m).
Port Guillaume arrived in Australia to much fanfare but was an early casualty of the 2020 Spring Carnival after being diagnosed with bone bruising.
After almost 12 months away from racing, Port Guillaume was ready for the 2021 Spring Carnival, and apart from finishing sixth in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, his overall form was uninspiring for the campaign.
It was not shaping much better for Lindsay Park when Port Guillaume returned earlier this year, until the Hayes brothers decided to send the gelding jumping.
After two hurdle schools there was some rekindled interest in his flat racing with a third and fourth respectively at Caulfield and Flemington.
Since his last start on June 18, Port Guillaume has been back to the hurdle schools, scoring at Traralgon.
While Lindsay Park is not yet ready to start the gelding in a race over jumps, J D Hayes said the stable had seen a shift in his mental attitude since that school on July 1.
Coupled with a tongue tie being applied on Saturday, J D Hayes is hopeful of a winning performance.
“He actually is a fantastic jumper, so he might have a future after his flat racing career,” Hayes said.
“He has been running adequate races, much more improved races, and I think we’re going to have a little change of tactics and go to the lead.
“He’s nice and free in his action and he’s physically looking fantastic because his eating has picked up in the last 12 months.
“We know he’s got the ability, mentally he’s switched on. If he puts it together, it could be a nice day.”
