The potential of Cruiserweight has been significantly highlighted by his impressive performance and victory at Caulfield.
This gelding’s triumph in the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap (1400m) on Saturday marked his third successive win, and his second since joining the Lindsay Park stable of Ben, Will, and J D Hayes.
There are growing comparisons between Cruiserweight and the renowned Lindsay Park champion Mr Brightside, with the Hayes brothers expressing confidence in Cruiserweight’s capacity to reach higher racing levels.
Sent off at $3 with Craig Williams in the saddle, Cruiserweight finished a length ahead of Celtics ($8), with Beechworth ($13) a further 3-¾ lengths back in third.
J D Hayes was reserved in his comments regarding Cruiserweight being labelled the new Mr Brightside, who had achieved six consecutive wins before his initial defeats and subsequently reached Group 1 status in his first campaign for Lindsay Park.
“It was visually very impressive,” Hayes said of Cruiserweight.
“It’s great to get a win for Punt Road Syndicate, John O’Neill and Jason Steet, and we sourced this horse together from New Zealand and he has gone from strength to strength.
“It looks like we will have a bit of fun with him going forward.
“He’s very raw. He’s not the finished product. He got up on his toe beforehand, he got hot and sweaty, but there’s plenty of upside.
“I know it’s a three-year-old race in July, but the way that he did it, hopefully he can end up where we think he can end up.”
When asked about Cruiserweight’s future racing plans, Hayes indicated the gelding would participate in races throughout the spring to enhance his handicap rating and prize money tally.
“What I think and what can happen are two different things,” Hayes commented.
“He will be the fit horse on the scene in the spring, and how far he goes, that’s another matter, but he is a bloody good horse.”
Williams, who had already secured a race-to-race double after winning the Sportsbet Fast Form Handicap (1100m) on Markdel for his father Alan and brother Jason, was pleased with Cruiserweight’s racing manners.
“They did say that he may be the new Mr Brightside and the way that he went he has scope for distance,” Williams said.
“He’s such a big, raw horse, and he’s got really good ability.
“They (the Hayes brothers) will get the best out of him and it will be exciting to see the path they take with him.”
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