The Lindsay Park team and the stable of Anthony and Sam Freedman shared the honours in the Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m) with both stables to consider Victoria’s richest two-year-old race at Caulfield next week.
The Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) will come under consideration for the Ben, Will and J D Hayes-trained Shining Smile as it will for Tentyris after the judge could not split them at Flemington on Saturday.
Daniel Stackhouse, aboard Shining Smile, fired in a protest against Tentyris, for alleged interference inside the final 50m, but after a long deliberation, Racing Victoria stewards dismissed the objection.
Will Hayes, representing the Lindsay Park team, said the stable would have a round-table discussion on Monday before deciding on whether Shining Smile would back up into the Blue Diamond.
“We will see how he pulls-up whether we go to the Blue Diamond or not,” Hayes said.
If we decide against the Blue Diamond, we will make our way up north for a tilt at the Golden Slipper.
“There are some nice lead-up races that will suit on the way to the Slipper.”
The Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) will be run at Rosehill on March 22.
Sam Freedman said Tentyris had turned his form around after running fifth behind stablemate Inkaruna on debut at Sandown two weeks ago.
He said they tried a few different things to get him back into the frame of mind he was in when trialling before his debut performance.
“He went over the hurdles a couple of times this week and it just kept his mind on the job here at the races,” Freedman said.
“They’re still learning, but it’s just changing their routine up.
“He responded really well but, importantly, today on race day, where the other day he was hard work, he was excellent, so he’s come a long way.”
Freedman said he would chat with the Godolphin team about the Blue Diamond, but foremost in the trainer’s mind was how the colt pulls-up from Saturday’s shared victory.
“We’ll let the dust settle and see how he pulls up,” Freedman said.
“It’s a very different dynamic here down the straight where they amble up, so to go to a high pressure 1200 (metres) is a challenge but we’ll have a chat to the team and work it out.”
