Lindsay Park has Quezette back-up option
Weather and track condition will determine whether Blue Diamond Stakes winner Catchy begins her spring campaign in the Group Three Quezette Stakes at Caulfield.
The Lindsay Park team of trainers David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig has three acceptors for Saturday’s 1100m race for fillies.
Catchy has been earmarked to return in the Quezette along with stablemate Ploverset, but the team has also accepted with Golden Slipper placegetter Tulip in case the track comes up wet.
“Catchy will run if it’s dry,” Ben Hayes said.
“We accepted with Tulip. If it’s wet, she’ll run. If it’s not wet she will run next week.
“And if it is wet Catchy won’t run and Tulip will run. It’s a bit of a back-up.
“But it’s looking like it’s going to be dry.”
Hayes said the plan had always been to kick off Tulip’s campaign next weekend.
Catchy has had early support to be the $2.80 favourite for Saturday and is unbeaten in her four Melbourne starts including the Blue Diamond.
Her only failure came in the Golden Slipper in Sydney on heavy ground in March, in which Tulip finished third.
Catchy headlines the field of 11, with Craig Williams booked to ride from barrier five.
“We’re really happy with the way she is going,” Hayes said.
“She has grown. She’s eating well and definitely looks like she has improved.
“I’m just really looking forward to her running. She looks like she’s got plenty of ability, and much more to give.”
Tulip is at $5 while Ploverset is at $17.
Ploverset won a Listed race at Flemington on debut in March, upsetting stablemate Madeenaty, before finishing third in the Group Three Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) to Shoals and Garrard at her only other start.
“She has come back well,” Hayes said.
“She’s got plenty of speed on her side and we really like her. She’s a nice horse.
“She’s a great back-up for Catchy.”