Ben and Jd Hayes have had just one starter at the Gold Coast in their short careers as head of Lindsay Park Racing, Zayydani finishing sixth in last year’s Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at 60-1.
That number will triple come Saturday and the brothers would be quietly confident of having something to show for it, with competitive chances in both the juvenile features.
One time favourite for the Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (1425m), Tijuana now sits on the equal third line of betting behind Yellow Brick and will carry a 1kg penalty under the weight conditions of the race as a winner of the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m).
The only horse in the field to come to the race first-up, co-trainer JD Hayes is confident he’ll be fit enough to tackle the contest off the back of one 900m trial.
“We gave him a strong hit out this morning and we’re very happy with how he went. You’ll notice that we put the blinkers on, I think that’ll be a key gear change for him and he’s very good over 1400m. Very happy with the way he’s prepped up,” Hayes said.
As for the barrier draw, which was held Tuesday morning, Hayes described the draw as ‘perfect’ with the highest rated horse in the field drawing barrier 7 of 20, which would see him jump from barrier 6 when emergencies come out.
Hayes was also happy with the draw for their runner in the 2yo Classic, with unbeaten filly Croatian Belle drawing barrier 12 of 21, which would see her likely jump from barrier 9.
“Very happy. She’s drawn 12, with the emergencies coming out she’d go to 9, in the middle there is just perfect,” Hayes said.
Having never raced clockwise, with both career wins coming at Mooneen Valley, Hayes is wary of the disadvantages she faces, but is confident she is handling the occasion with aplomb.
“She’s got a few things against her, she’s got to travel, on the wrong leg for the first time and we just couldn’t be more pleased with the way she’s handled it,” Hayes said.
“Her trackwork was very pleasing, she seems quite natural on the leg… she’s travelled beautifully and hasn’t turned a hair.”
TAB have Tijuana rated an $8.50 chance while Croatian Belle is at $17.