Senior Lindsay Park trainer David Hayes is hoping Muraahib can live up to his previous good first-up record when he returns to racing at Moonee Valley.
The three-year-old runs in the VOBIS Gold Carat (1200m) on Saturday, his first start as a gelding.
Muraahib won on debut at Morphettville in January and after another win at Sale graduated to a start in Victoria’s richest two-year-old race, the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield in February.
He finished sixth in the Group One race won by stablemate Catchy.
Muraahib was eventually stepped up to 1600m, winding up his campaign on a heavy track in the Fernhill Stakes at Randwick in April.
He returned for a spring campaign, running third to Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Merchant Navy at Caulfield in September before his form tapered off when stepped up slightly in distance.
Hayes, who trains in partnership with son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig, said Muraahib was being trained specifically as a sprinter this campaign.
“He’s been gelded since he last raced and he’s done everything right in the lead up to his return,” Hayes said.
“He sprints well fresh and his trackwork says he’ll run well.
“He mixed his form last time in but he should have beaten the $27 million horse (Merchant Navy) first-up and then lost form.
“Whether he didn’t appreciate being stepped up in distance and is just a sprinter I’m not sure, but we’ve gelded him and training him now as a sprinter.”
Hayes said with $150,000, including $30,000 bonus money, Saturday’s race was certainly worth a shot.
Muraahib dominates betting on Saturday’s 1200m sprint as the early $2.20 favourite with the Darren Weir-trained Pique and Mick Price-trained Teleplay equal second picks at $8.
