Constantinople is ready to produce the form that carried him to fourth place in the Caulfield Cup at his Australian debut.
He may be ranked the second outsider in TAB markets but Ben Hayes believes Constantinople is ready to strike winning form again.
Unplaced in all eight starts since arriving from Ireland, Constantinople is a $51 chance in betting and will be running for a ballot exemption to the Melbourne Cup when he contests Saturday’s Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington.
Constantinople finished fourth in the 2019 Caulfield Cup (2400m) at his Australian debut and has only picked up a prize money cheque on two occasions since.
Hayes, who trains the gelding in partnership with Tom Dabernig, said the signs were there that Constantinople was ready to produce a good run after his fifth placing in the Warrnambool Cup (2350m) on May 6.
He said the Warrnambool Cup performance, after covering ground, was his best since his Caulfield Cup outing.
“The stable’s very happy, the ownership group was very happy and he looks to have handled the run well,” Hayes told RSN.
“He’s now fit, fourth up into a 2800-metre race, so we’re hoping for another improved run.”
Constantinople suffered bone bruising to all four fetlocks after his two initial Australian starts and after two runs in the autumn of 2020 was turned out for a spell.
After one spring run last year, he was again turned out and gelded.
“I think he’s been away from racing for a long time and it has taken those runs to get that base fitness into him,” Hayes said.
“Now he’s had those runs, he’s sound, moving well and I think his run in the Warrnambool Cup told us he’s progressing in the right direction.
“I think he’ll run a nice race. He’s got the ability, it’s just whether he can bring it race day.”
