The Lindsay Park stable of Ben and J D Hayes has given themselves the opportunity of dual two-year-old winners over the weekend.
Last start winners Coast Princess and Ana Jaahza were acceptors in both the Listed Valley Pearl (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night and the Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Coast Princess has been scratched from Moonee Valley contest to run at Flemington as the Hayes brothers look to expand on their 11 two-year-old winners for the season, which includes the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Sandown last month with Little Brose.
Ben Hayes said Ana Jaahza was professional in her debut win at Ballarat last month and had taken improvement from the experience.
“She jumped, did everything right, is very professional,” Hayes said.
“At The Valley, if she can jump and sit outside the lead, or something like that, I think she’s more than capable of running a good race.”
Coast Princess has had two runs, finishing third on debut at Sale before scoring a narrow win at Pakenham on February 23.
“I thought she was very good at Pakenham,” Hayes said.
“She was very wide, and she went home to win impressively, and the form has been given a big tick with Ciaron Maher’s horse (third-placed Brave Mead) winning impressively there since.
“She looks like she has trained on with natural improvement and it’s a little bit like a straight race at Pakenham with the hook turn, so I’m hoping it’s a similar result.”
Michael Dee will ride both two-year-olds in their respective races.
Hayes said he and his brother changed their yearling buying habits last year which has resulted in better results this season, including the Blue Diamond success.
“It’s something JD and I really focussed on,” Hayes said.
“It’s good to see them come out and run well and if you’ve got two-year-olds winning as two-year-olds, it normally means you have three-year-olds, which is great for next season.”
