The Lindsay Park trio of Ben, Will and J D Hayes are optimistic that a rise in distance will finally help Alenquer secure his first Australian win.
The French-bred gelding arrived in late 2022 to join Mike Moroney’s team after claiming Group 1 honours in Ireland, and he was initially targeted towards the 2023 Melbourne Cup before a tendon injury sidelined him for almost two years.
Following Moroney’s passing earlier this year, Alenquer transferred to Lindsay Park and will step out for his fifth run for the Hayes brothers on Saturday.
He produced a strong second at Moonee Valley over 2040m before finishing seventh behind Via Sistina in the Champions Stakes (2000m) during Cup week at Flemington.
“He’s getting out to a trip for the first time in a long time,” Ben Hayes said.
“We ran him in a very hard race last start behind probably the best horse in Australia at the moment, Via Sistina, and I thought he held himself well.
“He did everything correct that day and the 2400 (metres) will be, I think, what he’s looking for now.
“He’s coming back from a tendon injury. He’s been slowly building and his fitness is improving, and I think it’s a race he can be competitive in.”
The extended layoff meant Alenquer needed considerable conditioning, but after trial work and two solid 2000m runs, the camp believes he is ready to peak.
Hayes said that any rain would further increase the gelding’s chances.
“He’s fifth up, he’s got good fitness on his base,” Hayes said.
“He’s had a long, slow build-up and I think it’s a race that we hope to see the best of him.
“He showed glimpses with his second at The Valley and obviously it was a heavy track and much harder competition in the Champion Stakes.
“It had been a long time since he had seen a heavy track like that, but looking at the weather, it could be good something he’s running on again.”
The Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) is the likely next step if Alenquer performs strongly on Saturday.
“That’s the thinking if he pulls up well,” Hayes said.
“He’s a happy horse. That’s a good thing about him that he actually enjoys being in work and you know he is enjoying it.
“And with his problems, he’ll be one of those horses that we probably keep in work for a year.”
Lindsay Park has yet to win the Zipping Classic since its conditions changed in 1998. Alenquer’s former trainer, the late Mike Moroney, won back-to-back editions with Sound in 2020 and 2021.
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