Straight improvement from Lindsay Park duo
Group Two-winning sprinter Derryn has been in the wings as Lindsay Park waits for a soft track.
He is engaged in Saturday’s Listed Straight Six at Flemington along with stablemate Keen Array, and will take his place if conditions suit.
Derryn hasn’t raced since running last in The Galaxy on a heavy track at Rosehill in March, but according to Lindsay Park co-trainer Ben Hayes has been flying in his gallops at their private training complex at Euroa.
The Galaxy was an out-of-character performance which left the Lindsay Park trainers scratching their heads.
With some rain forecast before Saturday’s meeting, Hayes is hoping Derryn gets the conditions to produce his best.
Last season Derryn won the Group Two Arrowfield Sprint at Randwick before going on to run third to Redzel in last year’s Doomben 10,000.
Since returning from last year’s winter break Derryn has finished closer to last than first in five outings.
“He’s flying at home but has been mixing his form,” Hayes said.
“He’s in a good spot physically.
“He’s very sound, for him, and if some rain does come and we do run him, he’d be a good chance.”
Hayes is hoping an old time theory of second-up syndrome got the better of Keen Array when he finished last in the McKay Stakes at Morphettville on May 5.
Keen Array had finished second to Rich Charm in his previous outing at Caulfield last month.
“He ran well at Caulfield and then ran a shocker in Adelaide,” Hayes said.
“We’ve had him up at the farm since he returned and are hoping he bounces back.
“He ran so well first-up after one trial so he might have felt it a bit.
“We’re hoping that’s the case because if he reproduces his first-up run, he’ll run well.”