If Ben Hayes has learnt one thing with Madiyya over her career, it is that you can’t count on too many opportunities each preparation with her.
Hence, narrow defeats at her past two starts have been particularly hard to stomach.
The daughter of Super Seth has been beaten in a photo at her past two starts, each when she was unable to get clear until around 250m from home, which was about 50m too late.
Madiyya is a rising five-year-old who hasn’t had a campaign extend beyond four starts to this point, but Hayes has seen enough this preparation to make him think she can bounce back in Saturday’s $130,000 Sportsbet Feed BM78 Handicap (1700m) at Caulfield.
“That’s been her problem as a horse, she’s never really handled her training,” Hayes said.
“But this prep she’s actually held weight and doing really well.
“She’s an older mare now and hopefully we can get the result, because when she gets it all together she’s got the ability.”
The two narrow defeats, both at Flemington, followed a first-up fourth placing, also at Flemington, when beaten just over 1-3/4 lengths by Capper Thirtynine.
Madiyya hasn’t finished further back than fifth in a 10-start career that features three wins, a couple of second placings and another two thirds.
She drew barrier 11 for Saturday’s 16-horse field, in which she will be ridden by metro jockeys premiership-hunter Jamie Mott.
Madiyya has won her only two starts at Caulfield and Saturday’s race will be the first start beyond 1600m for the mare who carries the Trelawney Stud colours, but one Hayes thinks she is ready for.
“I think (benchmark) 78, over 1700 should be ideal for her and she’s building fourth-up,” Hayes, who trains in partnership with brothers Will and JD, said.
Madiyya, who heads betting at $4.80, will be joined in Saturday’s race by stablemate Oriental Smoke, a $51 chance who is lining up for his fourth run since returning from a stint in Hong Kong with Jackson Radley to ride.
