Rival jockey Glen Boss believes Australian Guineas favourite Helmet could be vulnerable first-up in Saturday’s CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington and his mount Decircles is the one to upset him.
The Danny O’Brien-trained Decircles is also aimed at the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 3 and Boss is hoping the colt can emulate stablemate Shamrocker who won the three-year-old feature last year.
“He’s up against the mighty Helmet but he’s vulnerable first-up,” Boss told Radio Sport National.
“I saw him first-up last preparation and he was huge and he was very vulnerable, so if you say Helmet is vulnerable this is a winnable race.”
Boss was speaking from first-hand experience as he rode Smart Missile to his win over Foxwedge and Helmet who was resuming in the Group Three Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill last August.
“He should be ready to show his absolute best,” Boss, who will ride the son of Encosta De Lago for the first time in a race in the Group Three 1410m event, said of Decircles.
“I rode him this morning with the winkers on for the first time. The horse is in great shape.”
Decircles will race in winkers on Saturday and Boss warned to forgive his fifth to Eagle Falls in the Group Three Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield last Saturday when handled by Craig Williams who rides That’s The One in the Hayes.
Stewards reported Decircles raced tight on the inside entering the straight, laid in at the 200m and had difficulty obtaining clear running.
“He looks like he’s come through that run really well,” Boss said.
“Obviously he didn’t have a gut-busting run last start when things didn’t go right and he got jammed up which he didn’t appreciate.
“But his last sectional was the best for the day so you can take a positive out of it.
Decircles, who is out of a half-sister to outstanding gallopers Elvstroem and Haradasun, has raced only six times for a Seymour maiden win and two seconds including to stablemate Running Tall in the 2011 Group Two VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
After suffering a hock infection which sidelined him for the spring he resumed with a second to First Command in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on January 21.
“He’s a top-line horse but I think he’s still finding his way,” Boss said.
“Not much has gone right for him at this stage but I think barrier seven is a good draw for him.
“He has good tactical speed. I’ll be able to put him up in the race and keep him out of trouble and if I can do that I’m sure seven furlongs around Flemington is going to be very good for this horse.”
O’Brien is after his second win in the Hayes having won it two years ago with Take The Rap.
Caulfield Guineas winner Helmet, who brilliantly won a 1000m trial under lights at Cranbourne last Tuesday week, is $1.70 favourite with TAB Sportsbet for the Hayes Stakes ahead of That’s The One at $6, Decircles at $8.50 and Instinction at $9.50.
AAP TURF
