It’s all Blue skies for Hayes super team
TRAINER David Hayes is approaching the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield tomorrow in a confident frame of mind, believing his team is on a par with his squad which dominated the race last year.
Hayes’s Lindsay Park team saddled up five runners last year and they filled three of the top four spots with Catchy winning, Formality third and Tulip fourth.
Tomorrow, they have the $6.50 favourite Long Leaf as well as Ennis Hill, Enbihaar and Qalifa.
“I think this year’s four is as equally as talented as last year’s squad, which augurs well for the race,” Hayes said.
Hayes has won the Group 1 race six times but last year was the first time he had combined with son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig to win.
Although Ennis Hill is $8.50 with Ladbrokes, Hayes suspects she could be the best of his team.
“She’s working really well. We put the blinkers on her last start and she was brilliant,” he said.
He said Ennis Hill had always been rated one of Lindsay Park’s best two-year-olds and they didn’t lose any faith when she finished fourth at her first start.
“From her barrier of four she can use her speed and get a great spot,” Hayes said.
“I think she’ll look winner at some stage.”
Hayes said Long Leaf had impeccable credentials to win the Blue Diamond as a son of Fastnet Rock, who sired last year’s winner Catchy.
“He’s bulletproof. He’s done everything right and the step up to 1200m will suit him,” the trainer said. the
Hayes is happy with the condition of Qalifa and he is hoping she can create history by becoming the first horse to win the Blue Diamond Stakes first-up.
“She’s going really well. If I’d have given her a start before the race she would have won but this is the best way to go for her to attack it fresh,” he said.
Lindsay Park’s other runner is the undefeated Enbihaar but she and Qalifa have drawn poorly and will need some luck.
FROM HER BARRIER OF FOUR SHE CAN USE HER SPEED AND GET A GREAT SPOT. I THINK SHE’LL LOOK THE WINNER AT SOME STAGE. DAVID HAYES ON ENNIS HILL