Lindsay Park and the all-conquering Darren Weir stable saddle half the field in the opening Group One race of the season, the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
Weir has the top three in early betting, the $2.80 favourite Black Heart Bart, Mahuta ($5.50) and Palentino ($6.50) along with last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance, a $41 chance.
On the other hand, the Lindsay Park team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have three outsiders.
He Or She and Rising Romance are $21 chances with Tashbeeh the $101 rank outsider.
Rising Romance, who is yet to win in 12 starts for Lindsay Park, is going as well as she ever has in her time with the stable according to Dabernig.
“It’s been a long time since she’s won but she has been beaten narrowly in a couple of Group Ones for us,” Dabernig said.
Rising Romance is likely to head to the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on September 10, a race she finished second in last year, after which she is due to make a stud visit to Written Tycoon.
Plans are to race the mare in foal with the owners hoping to start her in the Cox Plate.
“We’ll see where she is at after her first couple of runs,” Dabernig said.
“She’s booked in to visit Written Tycoon but when that will be we’re just not sure yet.
“It’s all about getting the timing right.”
Dabernig said He Or She may find the 1400m on Saturday a bit short but he had been working well with the stable expecting a forward showing.
He said the gelding kept on improving through his last campaign and believes 1600m will be his ideal trip.
“We’ll probably look at the Toorak Handicap and the Emirates Stakes with him,” Dabernig said.
Dabernig said the stable had considered a Balaklava Cup start for Tashbeeh but decided on a throw at the stumps at Group One level instead.
He said Lindsay Park had always held Tashbeeh in high regard and were happy with his first-up effort down the straight at Flemington.
“He’ll probably start big odds but the way that he’s been going he won’t be the worst in the race,” Dabernig said.
Cory Parish gets a rare chance in a Group One race.
“He’s riding well, riding winners and doing the work,” Dabernig said.
“It’s our policy to support the guys that do the work.”
