The trainer has delivered a reassuring message to an anxious owner as weight-for-age star Criterion prepares to embark on a farewell to racing.
Annoyed that Criterion had been overlooked in the build-up to the Group One Canterbury Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, Sir Owen Glenn sought out David Hayes to clarify the trainer’s thoughts about the entire’s first-up chances.
Criterion
“I rang my trainer, and said `look, they’ve never even mentioned Criterion, the media’,” Sir Owen said.
“And he replied `at their peril Owen. He is in superb condition. I have never seen him this good’.
“He said `you just watch’.”
Criterion will stand his first season at stud later this year and he will bow out after a three-start Sydney autumn campaign that will also take in the George Ryder Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
During the past 2-1/2 seasons, Criterion has been considered among Australia’s best racehorses over a middle-distance and beyond.
It’s a rating built on wins in the Rosehill Guineas, ATC Australian Derby, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Caulfield Stakes as well as placings in the Cox Plate, Melbourne Cup and Hong Kong Cup.
Mindful how much a Group One win over a sprint distance would add to Criterion’s appeal as a stallion, Hayes insists he has Lindsay Park’s best horse sharp enough to match it with Canterbury Stakes favourites First Seal and Our Boy Malachi.
“I truly believe he is as good a sprinter as he is a stayer which is very unusual,” Hayes said.
“He’s already been Group One-placed as an older horse at weight-for-age in (last year’s) Canterbury Stakes and we hope to win it this weekend.”
Bookmakers have struggled to write a decent bet against Criterion since Canterbury Stakes markets opened and he has drifted from $8.50 to $9.50 as support has come for First Seal.
Michael Hawkes is ignoring Criterion’s obvious class edge to go with First Seal as the only threat to Our Boy Malachi winning at Group One level for the first time.
“I know some of the others that are resuming are a good bunch of horses but in saying that First Seal’s win the other day was nothing short of outstanding,” he said.
