The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and Jd Hayes went one-two in the inaugural running of The Supernova and are looking to go one better 12 months later.
The Hayes brothers were represented by Here To Shock and Arkansaw Kid in last year’s running of the $1 million slot race over 1400m at Pakenham, with Here To Shock victorious and Arkansaw Kid a courageous second.
This year, Lindsay Park will have Roll On High running for the stable, having finished fifth in last year’s edition when prepared by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.
Ben Hayes said he and his brothers were looking forward to the challenge of going back-to-back but admit this year’s assignment is looking tougher with the Joe Pride-trained Private Eye engaged.
“We’re excited,” Hayes said.
“It’s not often you get to have three horses in a big race like this, especially a $1 million race like The Supernova and I think they are three genuine chances.
“We’ve clashed with Private Eye on a number of times, and he’s had our measure, but we’re in form now and when we’ve met Private Eye before, he was the fit horse.”
After winning last year’s Supernova, Here To Shock headed to New Zealand where he was successful in Group 1 company, but on return had been winless until scoring over 1400m at Caulfield on November 29.
“His win the other day was up there with some of his better wins, I thought,” Hayes said.
“It was a great ride by Mark (Zahra), and he was strong through the line.
“It was the blowout he needed before we go back and hopefully defend our title and the way he came through the race, we’re very happy with him.”
Arkansaw Kid enters Saturday’s race having chased Jigsaw home in Southside Racing’s other slot race, The Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne on November 22.
The gelding has been freshened since finishing tenth in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in September.
“He ran into one last start that is in very good form and outsprinted us around Cranbourne,” Hayes said.
“We freshened going into that race and probably just peaked on our fitness late, but still to run second and run a very good race like he did, we’re very happy with him.
“Going up to 1400 metres will be good and he wasn’t beaten far in this race last year.”
Roll On High was switched into Lindsay Park’s care for this campaign and after two ‘fair’ performances to commence the campaign, ran second during Cup week at Flemington before finishing fourth at Caulfield over 1600m on November 15.
She has since won a Bendigo barrier trial on December 1.
“She ran super over Cup week and then got beaten just over a length over the mile, which she’s been tried a lot at, and it sees her out,” Hayes said.
“Dropping back to 1400 metres, rock hard fit, a touch unlucky in the race last year for another stable, I think she’s a genuine top four chance.”
