The Lindsay Park team will be out to add to their impressive record in the Australian Cup when Apulia heads to the 2000m contest on Saturday.
Colin Hayes, David Hayes, Peter Hayes, Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig all have their names as winning trainers of the Australian Cup and now Will and J D Hayes will be looking to add their names to the honour roll on Saturday.
Ben, Will and J D Hayes have Apulia running in the Group 1 contest and he will be out to cause a mini upset.
The Australian Cup can throw up a longshot winner – remember Dandy Andy in 1988 – along with Roman Arch ($51) in 2006 while Harlem did it back-to-back in 2018 and 2019 when $61 and $31 respectively giving Ben Hayes, who was in a partnership with his father David and Dabernig at the time, the first two of his three wins in the race.
Apulia won’t be Harlem odds come Saturday, currently $10, however horses at a double figure quote have a strong record in recent years in the Australian Cup.
Ben Hayes said Apulia was in excellent order heading into Saturday’s race and will be ridden by William Pike who rode the entire to dual Perth victories during their summer carnival, including the Perth Cup (2400m) on January 1.
Apulia returned from Perth to finish fifth behind Birdman in the Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last month before running a last start second to that galloper in the Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on March 14.
Blinkers have again been added to Apulia’s gear for Saturday’s contest.
“He hasn’t worn the headgear for a while, so we’ve put a set of blinkers on which may give us the extra couple of lengths that we need to catch Birdman,” Hayes said.
“I thought we ran well behind him at Caulfield. He had the easier run than us, as we had to go wide.
“He’s there to peak on Saturday. He loves Flemington and I think the 2000 metres is what he’s looking for.
“I think 2400 is his best trip with his win in the Perth Cup, and he was dominant, but at 2000, he’ll still be sharp enough and will be competitive.
“We’re hopeful and I think he’s a genuine top three chance in an Australian Cup, and it has been a good race to us over the years.”
Birdman heads the market at $3.70 ahead of Tom Kitten at $4.20.
