Lindsay Park 3YOs ready for All-Star tilt
The Lindsay Park team of Ben and David Hayes and Tom Dabernig (l to r) has 2 All-Star Mile runners.
Two three-year-olds who were not part of the Lindsay Park set-up when nominations for the All-Star Mile were taken will carry the stable’s hopes in the inaugural $5 million race at Flemington.
Hawkshot and Amphitrite were placed in the Group One Australian Guineas last start and Lindsay Park co-trainer Tom Dabernig says the pair are in great shape for Saturday.
Both were formerly trained by the now-disqualified Darren Weir before being transferred to the Lindsay Park team of David and Ben Hayes and Dabernig early last month.
They won Group races in their first starts for the stable before running in the Australian Guineas (1600m) in which Hawkshot was second and Amphitrite third.
Hawkshot was not an initial All-Star Mile entry but gained a wild card after the Guineas.
While they face a test against proven weight-for-age stars Alizee, Hartnell, Le Romain and Happy Clapper and Guineas winner Mystic Journey, Dabernig says the three-year-olds are ready to run to their best.
“Where their ceiling is or where they end up, it’s hard to know,” Dabernig said.
“But on their proven form at the moment we’re lucky to have them in the team.
“Hawkshot, in his early races was a bit erratic but his racing manners have improved a lot.
“When he won for us at Caulfield in the Autumn Stakes we thought we’d just let him stride and not fight him. In that more forward role he seems to be a lot more tractable.
“Amphitrite’s form is fantastic. Apart from the Oaks last year, I don’t think she has ever run a bad race.
“It should be interesting. But we’re quietly confident we’ve got two good chances in the race.”
Amphitrite has winkers on and Dabernig says a wide draw will help Craig Williams to ride her quietly early in the race.
“We’ll ride her a bit conservative and I think she will finish really well,” he said.
From a good draw, Hawkshot should roll forward.
“He ran great in the Guineas but he probably just had to work a fraction too long in that early part,” Dabernig said.
“I think if he can be forward and have that slightly softer run early, I’d expect him to run well.”