Lindsay Park showcased its powerful Taj Rossi Series Final hand in the opening event on Saturday’s VRC Country Raceday at Flemington.
Sneaky Sunrise emphatically sealed her position as the stable’s top seed with a tenacious win in the $150,000 Ken Cox Handicap (1420m), in which stablemate Jenni’s Meadow finished fourth.
Sneaky Sunrise’s win made it back-to-back Flemington victories following success over 1400m on May 18 and co-trainer Ben Hayes said there was a start there for the daughter of The Autumn Sun in the $175,000 Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) on July 6 if she wanted it.
“The plan was always to go a month between runs, hopefully win here and then run in the Taj Rossi Series Final and get some Black Type,” Hayes said.
“That would be the most likely plan, but obviously it depends on how she pulls up and how she’s going before we head in that direction.
“But we really like her. I think she’s got more to come and is only going to improve with age.”
Sneaky Sunrise ($3.60 fav), who was ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, overcame travelling three-wide without cover for most of the trip to hold off $3.90 betting apps second favourite Pisces by a short neck with Henlein ($12) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
“It was a really tough that she was able to sit three-wide, bring the horse that she narrowly beat (into the race) and hold it off and be strong through the line,” Hayes, who trains in partnership with brothers Will & Jd Hayes, said.
“It’s a good trait for a horse and very pleasing to see.”
Jenni’s Meadow ($12) was nosed out of third position, but Hayes was encouraged by the performance with an eye to stepping up in trip for the final.
“She’s got this habit under pressure of laying in and she did that in the straight there and she only narrowly missed third,” Hayes said.
“I thought she was a very strong through the line, (it was a) big pass mark and I wouldn’t hesitate to go to a mile with her.”
