Lindsay Park will look to continue their recent domination of the Victoria Handicap with dual representation in the Group 3 race at Caulfield.
Success in the 1400m contest had eluded Lindsay Park this century until Here To ShockĀ took out the race in 2024Ā withĀ Nicolini Vito followingĀ up last year.
Here To Shock is back again on Saturday looking for his second success for trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes andĀ will be joined this year by Cafe Millennium.
BothĀ HereĀ ToĀ Shock and Nicolini Vito got into the Victoria Handicap on the minimum of 54kg, but this year HereĀ ToĀ Shock will carry the number one saddlecloth after beingĀ allotted 60kg while Cafe Millennium is the second highest weighted galloperĀ onĀ 58kg.
Lindsay Park had a third horse entered, Give Me Space, who had 54kg, but did not make the field limit of 16 and two emergencies and will instead run in the Noel Rundle Handicap (1400m) in which he has 62kg which will be offset by the 1.5kg claim of Logan Bates.
Like Mr Brightside, HereĀ ToĀ Shock has been a mainstay of the Lindsay Park operation.
His first Stakes win came in the Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo in April 2023 with his second being in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap 12 months later.
He’sĀ won at Group 3 level in Brisbane and Sydney and last year won at Group 1 level in New Zealand and travelled back there in February, finishing fourthĀ atĀ TeĀ Rapa.
SinceĀ returning, HereĀ ToĀ ShockĀ finishedĀ second to ScheeliteĀ in the Shaftesbury Avenue Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 7 before running second in a Werribee jump-out lastĀ week.
J D Hayes said HereĀ ToĀ Shock was an old marvel still racing in prime form.
“He trialled up superĀ and he’llĀ run an honest race asĀ he’sĀ so consistent,” Hayes said.
Cafe Millennium can be a hard one to follow, but on his day has the ability, although he has been burdened by gate 15 on Saturday.
He took out a Listed race at Flemington on February 14 before finishing fifth to Scheelite at Flemington on March 7.
“We scratched him from the heavy track last week,” Hayes said.
“He’sĀ a good 1400-metre horse, but we wouldĀ probably preferĀ himĀ at Flemington.”
