David Hayes will be two-handed in his quest for a third Australian Cup with import Spillway and Extra Zero taking on some high-profile opposition at Flemington.
Hayes, who won in 1991 with Better Loosen up and again in 2009 with Niconero, is joined this time around by new training partner Tom Dabernig.
Extra Zero
While Hayes was training in Hong Kong during late 1990s, Lindsay Park scored in 1999 with Istidaad in 1999 who was prepared by Hayes’ late brother Peter.
Better Loosen Up, now 29 and a resident at Living Legends, will be paraded at Flemington on Saturday along with 2010 winner Zipping.
Spillway is on the fourth line of betting at $10 behind Happy Trails ($4.60) and Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist ($5).
English horse Red Cadeaux, three times the runner-up in the Melbourne Cup, is at $13.
Spillway will be having his third run back following a spell having contested the CF Orr Stakes before the Peter Young Stakes (1800m) on February 28.
“The Group One 1400 metres was too short and then he finished on really well in the traditional lead-up,” Hayes said.
“I thought his run was as good as anyone’s in the race.
“He’s got a good barrier and I’m really pleased there’s good speed in the race.”
How Spillway performs on Saturday will determine whether he heads to Sydney where he has been entered for the Doncaster Mile (1600m) on April 4 and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on April 11.
Extra Zero broke an exasperating run of minor placings with a Flemington success on New Year’s day and has since returned three seconds from his last four starts, the latest at Caulfield on February 28 and is $61 chance in betting.
