The Lindsay Park stable of Ben, Will and J D Hayes held high hopes for Carbonados when he burst on the scene with an Australian debut win at Geelong.
That was a little over 12 months ago and at the corresponding Australia Day meeting at Caulfield last year, Carbonados progressed straight to Group 3 level contesting the Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Carbonados did not live up to the lofty expectations of Lindsay Park and the army of punters that supported him, finishing last, before another disappointing performance at Caulfield.
After a spell, Carbonados resumed with a poor showing down the Flemington straight in June, before he went in search of easier company, eventually landing the prize on the Pakenham Synthetic track in August.
Following one more start, Carbonados was spelled and after two Pakenham jump-outs is ready for his return on the same Australia Day card as last year, albeit in the Nick Johnstone Real Estate Handicap (1200m), a benchmark 74 race, at Sandown on Saturday.
Ben Hayes said Carbonados had been a head scratcher, but had noticed signs this campaign that the gelding may have turned the corner.
“With him we’re hoping it’s a maturity thing,” Hayes said.
“We’re kicking him off with the earmuffs and in his trials this time in I’ve thought he has been settling better.
“He was just starting to do that at the end of his campaign last time, so I think with time, and having one rider work with him and monitoring him, his mannerisms are improving, but you never really know until they are first-up at the races.
“If he’s relaxed in the mounting yard and doing everything correctly, he’s a horse with high ability and if we can, it would be great to take those earmuffs off later in the prep.
“He’s a city class horse and hopefully he can go through the grades this prep, and we can have a bit of fun with him.”
The Lindsay Park team also has Vail Mountain engaged in Saturday’s race, but that galloper has drawn poorly in the widest gate of the 13 runners remaining.
“We’ll have a good look at the race and see if it is worthwhile running or not, but there is an option to run him at Sandown on Wednesday,” Hayes said.
