Lindsay Park will consider a trip to Queensland for Tijuana after the son of American Pharoah remained unbeaten with a stylish victory at Flemington.
Co-trainer Ben Hayes said two feature two-year-old races during the Brisbane Winter Carnival would be considered by the stable after Tijuana took out the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) on Monday.
The victory for Ben and JD Hayes followed Tijuana’s debut win at Pakenham and provided Lindsay Park with their third win in the Anzac Day Stakes after Confectioner (2003) and Extra Zero (2009).
Ridden by Mark Zahra, Tijuana, the $3.40 favourite, scored a three-quarter length win from Alcedo ($41) with Foreign Raider ($5) a length away third.
Hayes said the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on May 28 and the Group 1 J J Atkins Stakes (1600m), also at Eagle Farm on June 11, would be considered for Tijuana.
“I want to see how he pulls up,” Hayes said.
“Whether or not we put him away and target the Caulfield Guineas in the spring, or whether we look at a trip to Brisbane, that’s what we’ll have to work out.
“That was really exciting, so we’ll have to have a think about it, but he’s got a very exciting future.”
Hayes said Tijuana had shown improvement from his debut victory, and what impressed Hayes was the colt’s manners on Monday.
Zahra was having his first ride on Tijuana but liked what he saw having studied the colts win at Pakenham last month.
“It’s hard for a two-year-old to win first-up at Pakenham,” Zahra said.
“It’s a testing course but I loved the way he sprinted up the hill and won without being touched.
“I had to use a bit of petrol to take the front up today as I didn’t want to get pocketed, so he was pretty good to do that, then sprint clear on the turn, so it’s a good sign.
“He was getting tired, but he was entitled to.”
