If Rising Romance or Almoonqith wins the BMW, they will do something the greatest Lindsay Park racehorses couldnât.
In Colin Hayesâ era Dulcify, At Talaq, How Now and Better Loosen Up all met their match at Rosehill.
Better Loosen Up, who died last week, could not figure among the placings when Sydeston won in 1990 but by the end of the year he conquered the world in the Japan Cup under Hayesâ son David.
On two occasions, David Hayes has tried to win the BMW with Melbourne Cup winners.
Jeune was a short-priced favourite when beaten by three-year-old Stony Bay in 1995 and in 2011 Americain couldnât get past a rejuvenated Manighar.
Rising Romance and Almoonqith represent another Lindsay Park era with Hayes and his nephew Tom Dabernig now co-trainers.
Dabernig is unsure why the BMW is a hoodoo race for the stable.
âWeâve had a few tries but just havenât been able to get there for whatever reason,â he said.
âBut weâll keep trying.â
This yearâs runners may not be in the class of Lindsay Parkâs former greats, but neither is it a vintage BMW field, considering the $1.5 million on offer.
Rising Romance, who won the 2014 ATC Australian Oaks over the distance, is running into form at the right time.
The mare was third behind BMW favourite Preferment in the Australian Cup at her last start.
âShe hasnât won for a while and itâs her first time in Sydney for us but she has performed there,â Dabernig said.
Almoonqith was a victim of a dawdling tempo and finished three lengths from the winner in the Australian Cup.
Dabernig said the run had more merit than it looked because none of the backmarkers made much ground.
âHeâs getting out to a more suitable trip and youâd have to think heâd be an improved run.â
An import by Americainâs sire Dynaformer, Almoonqith is making his second trip to Sydney after picking up late for a midfield finish in the Metropolitan.
It was the turning point of his spring because he won the Geelong Cup at his next outing and then the Sandown Cup two starts later.
In between, Almoonqith had no chance in a slowly run Melbourne Cup after settling at the tail of the field.
Almoonqith is a $13 chance with Rising Romance at $9.50 in a race which has Preferment the $3.40 favourite ahead of Our Ivanhowe at $4.20 with the latter recovering from a hoof issue.
