Keen Array and Tashbeeh tackle Saturday's Bletchingly Stakes for Lindsay Park
Lindsay Park enters the final Group race of the season with a two-pronged attack in the weight-for-age sprint at Caulfield.
Keen Array and Tashbeeh tackle Saturday’s Group Three Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) looking to wind up a successful season for the stable.
Under the guidance of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, Lindsay Park has 109 winners in the metropolitan area after Wednesday’s penultimate meeting at Sandown, bettering David Hayes’ then-record of 103 in 2006/07.
The stable has held high hopes for Keen Array since his three-year-old days and the sprinter makes his first appearance since a trip to Perth last November.
Keen Array, a three-time winner at Caulfield, has three Listed race victories under his belt and finished second in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2015.
He was Lindsay Park’s chosen one for Melbourne’s 2016 Group One sprint double of the Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap, but didn’t live up to expectations.
He returned in the spring winning twice from seven starts.
Keen Array was gearing up for an autumn campaign but developed a cold that resulted in an extended spell.
“There was mucus that kept coming back after work when we were getting him ready earlier in the year so we decided to pull up stumps,” Dabernig said.
“He’s seems great and is a massive horse now and has really developed.
“He’ll be kept to sprints to start with but he might get to 1400 metres or a mile this preparation depending on how he’s racing.”
After winning first-up at Flemington in May, Tashbeeh finished ninth behind Ability in the All Victorian Sprint Final at Flemington on July 8.
Dabernig said, like Keen Array, Tashbeeh had good Caulfield form and the stable was expecting a better performance.
“We might have had him a little too fresh at his last run at Flemington and he over travelled and emptied himself out,” Dabernig said.
“We’ll keep him sprinting for the time being and he might go to 1400 (metres) after Saturday.”
Keen Array ($10) is the more highly fancied of the Lindsay Park pair with Tashbeeh a $35 chance.
Supido is an easing $3.60 favourite while there has been good support for Lankan Rupee who has firmed from $6.50 to $4.50, and a clear second pick.
