Ben Hayes is already a dual winner of the Newmarket Handicap, but he would love nothing more than to win it again, this time with his training partnership brothers Will and J D.
Arkansaw Kid lines up for Ben, Will and J D Hayes in the Group 1 sprint over 1200m at Flemington on Saturday as Lindsay Park chases their first win in the race since 2018 when Redkirk Warrior scored the second of his two wins.
Ben Hayes was in those years in a training partnership with his father David and cousin Tom Dabernig before David left for a second training stint in Hong Kong.
David Hayes won the race once prior to his first training stint in Hong Kong while his father Colin Hayes won the race on four occasions.
Redkirk Warrior became the first horse in 100 years to win the famous sprint first-up when successful in 2017 and Arkansaw Kid will attempt to replicate that performance on Saturday.
Arkansaw Kid has not raced since finishing second to evergreen stablemate Here To Shock in the inaugural running of The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham in December.
Ben Hayes said Arkansaw Kid has the right form credentials to be competitive in Saturday’s feature sprint having defeated Skybird in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington.
Skybird won the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington first-up last month but was ruled out of the Newmarket with a pectoral injury.
“He’s got form around Skybird, who he beat the last time they faced each other, and that is the right form for this race,” Hayes said.
“It’s been a target race and one race we wanted to run him in during the autumn while fresh.
“He’s just been freshened from running in the Supernova over 1400 metres at Pakenham, and we’re thrilled with him.
“He’s had two nice jump-outs and his last jump-out, in particular, was very good.
“With his record down the straight, and at 1200 metres, we expect him to run very well.”
The Lindsay Park team has engaged Craig Newitt for the ride who is aiming to become the most winningest jockey in Newmarket history, a race that dates back to 1874.
Newitt has three wins to his credit, sharing the record with Harold Badger, Athol Mulley, Damien Oliver and Harry White.
