Former Hong Kong galloper and one-time Everest contender Joyful Fortune will return to the races on Saturday after more than two years off the scene, set to line up in the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
Joyful Fortune started his career with Kim Waugh at Gosford but was sold to Hong Kong before his debut and raced under David Hall and then Tony Cruz, returning to Australia under the care of Mark Newnham in 2022 where he won twice down the Flemington straight.
He briefly joined Ciaron Maher in early 2024 before being transferred to Ben, Will & JD Hayes at Lindsay Park and the stable are confident they’ve done everything they can to get the 2022 Everest runner rehabilitated from knee issues that have caused the long absence.
“The owners have been incredibly patient, the vet at Pakenham whose name is John Russell has done a massive job getting this horse sound and he’s trialled up super,” JD Hayes said.
“He’s got quality oozing, he ran an Everest, he was a good Hong Kong horse and if he brings his best he’ll be hard to beat.”
Hayes praised the entire Lindsay Park operation for their work in rehabilitating Joyful Fortune, who won the Listed Century Stakes (1000m) at Flemington at his most recent start in November 2022.
“We had to really utilise our facilities at Euroa; that’s why the horse got sent to us with the water walkers and the hills and the treadmills and it seems to have worked really well with this horse,” Hayes said.
“He’s actually spent all his time building up at our Pakenham base, Sarah Fannin the assistant trainer down there has done a super job, and it’s a credit to the Pakenham training facility as well that he’s been able to get through the trial stage and now we’re at the races and hopefully we’re able to be cashing some cheques.”
While Hayes admits it’s an unknown bringing a horse back from such a long spell, he’s confident Joyful Fortune, who is rated a $9.50 chance with Harry Coffey aboard, is ready to fire on Saturday having won four jump outs over the past few months.
“Trialled up super, he’s nice and sound in himself, we’ll just see how he handles race pressure but awfully excited to get him to the races,” Hayes said.
“I think he’ll be there…it’s always caution with horses with niggling little issues but everything he’s shown us, the way he’s trialled, I think he’d be hard to beat.”
