Lindsay Park’s 12-month wait to unveil classy import Crackerjack King is nearly over.

Crackerjack King won the 2011 Italian Derby, defeating the subsequent Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream, and the 2012 Group One Presidente Dela Repubblica before Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock purchased the entire.

Marco Botti prepared Crackerjack King in his midfield finishes in the Group One Eclipse Stakes in England and the Group One Arlington Million in the US before ATB sent the horse to the Hayes stable to compete in Australian features.

Crackerjack King arrived with tendon trouble and Hayes scrapped his initial preparation to embark on a long-term rehabilitation of the stallion’s foreleg.

“We got him to train for last spring but the tendon wasn’t ready to be pushed when I got him,” Hayes said.

Hayes looks to human specialists for advice on treating tendon injuries in his horses and the trainer has compiled a program which has worked for Crackerjack King.

A consistent light work regimen has strengthened the tendons of both Crackerjack King and another injured import, the Group Three winner Jet Away.

“We have consulted the top human tendon man and used the human theories on tendons,” Hayes said.

“Human tendons recover very well and they don’t stop people moving when they have tendon injuries.”

Crackerjack King trialled privately at Hayes’ and training partner Tom Dabernig’s Euroa property last week and the duo will start the seven-year-old at Caulfield on Saturday week.

Hayes said he and Dabernig would prepare Crackerjack King for the Cox Plate rather than the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

“I think he’s probably too brilliant for the Cups, he’s more of a Cox Plate horse. He’s got plenty of gas,” Hayes said.

“The Cox Plate, with his tendon issues, is probably easier to train him for.”