The day after the death of one of the great two-year-olds in Lindsay Park’s storied history, the Hayes family unearthed a juvenile who could be destined to be its next top-liner.
All Too Hard gelding Hard Kick launched his career in the best possible fashion, dominating his rivals in the $175,000 Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m) that opened Saturday’s Black Caviar Lightning program at Flemington.
The victory came just over 24 hours after former champion filly Miss Finland died at the age of 22, and while J D Hayes conceded Hard Kick has a way to go to match the deeds of the 2006 Golden Slipper winner, he was delighted to see the youngster justify the stable’s strong opinion.
“What a thrill, he’s been very well-educated at home and we thought he was pretty good and he won with authority there,” Hayes, who trains in partnership with brothers Ben and Will, said.
“We’re not sure he’s as good as Miss Finland, but he looked pretty good there.”
The Slipper was one of five Group 1 triumphs for Miss Finland, who also captured the Australian Guineas, Thousand Guineas, VRC Oaks and Storm Queen Stakes when prepared by David Hayes.
Hard Kick ($3), a $30,000 Adelaide Magic Millions yearling who was later sold for $140,000 at last year’s Inglis Ready2Race Sale, showed sharp early speed to lead before kicking strongly to score by 2-3/4 lengths from Zambales in 1:03.90.
Diameter ($13) was 1-3/4 lengths away in third.
The performance earned high praise from jockey Damian Lane, who had partnered the colt in lead-up work and admitted he may need to reassess just how highly he rates him.
“I thought before today that he was a good horse, but just off the better ones, but off the back of that, he might be right up there,” Lane said.
Hard Kick could now be given the opportunity to achieve something Miss Finland narrowly missed, with JD Hayes not ruling out a tilt at next Saturday’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes, a race Miss Finland finished runner-up in.
A $55,000 late entry fee would be required for the $2 million feature as Hard Kick was not among the original nominations.
“We’ll keep the option open next week as he did win with head on his chest there, but there’s plenty of options going ahead with this horse. It’s very exciting,” Hayes said.
The Talindert Stakes formed part of an early Stakes double for Lane, who two races later led throughout to claim the $175,000 Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m) aboard the Danny O’Brien-trained Sass Appeal.
