David Hayes is hopeful an easy country barrier trial win is the spark Bold Sniper needs to break his Australian maiden status.
Owned by The Queen, Bold Sniper, a three-time winner in the UK, hasn’t been placed in seven Australian starts but his best chance of success will come in the Le Pine Funerals Plate (2400m) at Sandown on Saturday.
Bold Sniper scored a 20-length trial win at Tatura on May 16 and co-trainer David Hayes said the trick was getting him to switch off.
While the opposition wasn’t strong, Bold Sniper appreciated the heavy conditions and settled well in the fast-run heat.
“He tends to want to over-race so we spend most of our time trying to slow him down,” Hayes said.
“Hopefully he’s in a good frame of mind because on his best form he would be good enough to win this.”
Last spring Bold Sniper finished fourth behind The United States in the Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield and again was fourth to that galloper in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.
Originally trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Bold Sniper was sent to Gai Waterhouse but didn’t appreciate the city stable environment and was transferred to Lindsay Park’s Euroa stable without racing.
Hayes believes after two runs and a trial this campaign that Bold Sniper is at his peak.
“We’ve got him as fit as we can have him and he’s back in class so we’re hoping he can run a more competitive race,” Hayes said.
Lindsay Park will also be represented by the ultra consistent Golden Mane.
Golden Mane is listed as the $6 second favourite with Bold Sniper, to be ridden by apprentice Dylan Dunn, at $17.
Warrnambool Cup winner Master Of Arts, prepared by the all-conquering Darren Weir, is a $2.70 favourite.
