Ben Hayes has already secured two victories in the Newmarket Handicap, but this year, he hopes to claim the title alongside his training partners and brothers, Will and J D.
Arkansaw Kid will represent Ben, Will, and J D Hayes in the prestigious Group 1 sprint over 1200m at Flemington on Saturday as Lindsay Park seeks its first win in the race since 2018, when Redkirk Warrior captured his second consecutive victory.
During Redkirk Warrior’s triumphs, Ben Hayes was training in partnership with his father, David, and cousin, Tom Dabernig, before David moved to Hong Kong for a second training stint.
David Hayes won the Newmarket Handicap once before his first Hong Kong venture, while his father, Colin Hayes, clinched four victories in the historic race.
Redkirk Warrior made history in 2017 as the first horse in 100 years to win the sprint first-up, and Arkansaw Kid will attempt to replicate that feat on Saturday.
Arkansaw Kid has not raced since finishing runner-up to his stablemate, Here To Shock, in the inaugural The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham last December.
Ben Hayes believes Arkansaw Kid has the right credentials to be a strong contender in Saturday’s feature, having previously defeated Skybird in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington.
Skybird went on to claim victory in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington last month but has since been ruled out of the Newmarket due to a pectoral injury.
“He’s got form around Skybird, who he beat the last time they faced each other, and that is the right form for this race,” Hayes said.
“It’s been a target race and one race we wanted to run him in during the autumn while fresh.
“He’s just been freshened from running in the Supernova over 1400 metres at Pakenham, and we’re thrilled with him.
“He’s had two nice jump-outs and his last jump-out, in particular, was very good.
“With his record down the straight, and at 1200 metres, we expect him to run very well.”
The Lindsay Park team has secured Craig Newitt for the ride, as he aims to become the most successful jockey in Newmarket Handicap history, a race dating back to 1874.
Newitt has already claimed three wins in the event, currently sharing the record with Harold Badger, Athol Mulley, Damien Oliver, and Harry White.
