David Hayes holds the record for the most wins in the Blue Diamond Stakes
David Hayes already holds the training record for the most wins in the Blue Diamond Stakes and his stable of juveniles look poised to play a prominent role again this year.
Hayes, who now trains in partnership with his son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig, has won Victoria’s premier race for two-year-olds five times and one of the stable’s contenders this year will be out to stamp her claims when she makes her second race appearance at Caulfield.
Catchy is odds-on favourite to make it two wins from as many starts when she runs in Saturday’s Peter Siggins Plate (1100m).
She is among a strong group of fillies Hayes’ Lindsay Park operation has unveiled this season including last Saturday’s impressive debut winner Tulip who is he early Blue Diamond favourite with corporate bookmakers.
Catchy, who like Tulip was an impressive Moonee Valley debut winner, is also high up in early markets for the $1.5 million race at Caulfield on February 25 as is stablemate Formality who made a winning start to her career at Werribee on Thursday.
“We look to have a good crop,” Dabernig told radio station RSN927.
“There’s a little bit of water to get under the bridge now before these good races but we look to have the right sorts of horses to perform well in those races.”
Another of the stable’s classy youngsters is leading Magic Millions contender Madeenaty.
Catchy’s debut win earned high praise from jockey Craig Williams who labelled her a Group One horse.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock out of Cats Whisker is the shortest priced favourite on Saturday’s program at $1.80 and Dabernig anticipates she can perform to expectations.
“She’s drawn a good gate, Craig Williams has got a lot of confidence in her and her work has been great leading into it,” he said.
“Apart from it being a horse race, and there’s plenty of variables and things that can happen, but I’d be surprised if she wouldn’t be winning or right around the money.”
