Lindsay Park trainers Ben and J D Hayes had high hopes for European import Pas Malotru before his Australian debut at Flemington.
But those hopes of a spring campaign were shattered when Pas Malotru suffered a bleeding attack in that 1100m race in August.
After incurring an automatic three-month ban from racing, Pas Malotru is ready for a racetrack return in the Raymond Martin Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Pas Malotru was trained by Marco Boti in the UK where he was a winner at Listed level while also placing third in Group 1 company at Deauville in France.
Purchased to race in Hong Kong, Pas Malotru had one start for David Hayes in November 2020 before going amiss with a tendon injury and being sent to Lindsay Park to recuperate.
In his lead-up work and jump-outs prior to his Australian debut, Pas Malotru showed the Lindsay Park trainers that he was a horse with obvious ability.
Ben Hayes said the stable was shocked that Pas Malotru had performed ingloriously at his debut run for Lindsay Park.
“He’s a horse that we have a really high opinion of,” Hayes said.
“His first run in Australia we were surprised that he ran so poorly, but he bled from both nostrils which he had never done before.
“He’s had his time off and we’ve built him up. I was very happy with his trial at Werribee last week and I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes.
“You never know with a bleeder, but if he brings his best form, he’s more than capable of running a good race.”
Lindsay Park also has Sandy Prince engaged in Saturday’s race, but he is also an acceptor for the Victorian Jockey’s Association Sprint (1100m) at Flemington on Sunday.
The unbeaten Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Vermentino is also engaged in both those races.
“We’ll probably run Sandy Prince wherever Ciaron’s doesn’t run his horse,” Hayes said.
