Lindsay Park is looking forward to stepping up Reset The Jazz in distance at Caulfield and test the three-year-old as a possible Derby contender.
Reset The Jazz is down to run in the Group 3 Neds Classic (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday on his way to a potential start in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) on Saturday,
The Neds Classic, the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) on Wednesday and the Group 2 The Vase (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday week are the preferred lead-up races for Victorian stables leading into the Derby.
But Polanski in 2013 is the only horse to have won the Neds Classic – Derby double in recent years.
Reset The Jazz has raced on only two occasions but shapes as a stayer in the making for trainers Ben and JD Hayes.
A debut second, behind Tiz Magic, an entrant in Saturday’s race for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr, at Wangaratta on September 14 was followed by a 1600m maiden win on heavy ground at Bendigo on October 3.
The prospects of a wet track with rain forecast up until Saturday is expected to be a bonus for Reset The Jazz, as is the rise in distance.
“He’s a really nice horse that is on a path to the Derby,” Ben Hayes said.
“So, if he can run a good race on Saturday we’ll be definitely heading in that direction.
“He’s by Reset and is bred to stay and he was an impressive winner last start.
“That was on a heavy track too and that is what it’s likely to be on Saturday, so that’s only going to help him as well.
“He’s a big scopey horse, built like a Derby horse, so hopefully he can run the trip.”
