The youngest member of the Lindsay Park training trio believes stakes winner Fuhryk could be a sleeping giant in the sprinting ranks as the mare prepares for her season return.
Fuhryk won five of her eight starts last season including the Group Three Kevin Hayes Stakes at Caulfield and Proud Miss Stakes in Adelaide.
The four-year-old resumes in Saturday’s Group Three Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield for mares and Ben Hayes, who trains in partnership with his father David and cousin Tom Daberning, believes she is an exciting prospect for this season.
“She’s going really well,” Hayes said.
“She’s come back bigger and stronger and I really think she’ll step up this preparation.”
Fuhyrk was given her chance to stretch out to 1600m during the autumn, finishing 12th in the Australian Guineas but Hayes said they had worked out she was an effective sprinter.
“I think she’ll really surprise,” he said.
“She might be a sleeping giant. She could be a good sprinter.”
Fuhryk is the heavily backed $2.70 favourite with Sportsbet.com.au for the Cockram while stablemate Sullivan Bay, a last start Caulfield winner, has earned her shot at the race in her 16th start of the campaign.
“Sullivan Bay has the winter fitness on her side and has been racing ultra consistently the whole preparation. She’s earned her shot black type, and she’s got a chance,” Hayes said.
Lindsay Park has a big team of horses heading to Caulfield including favourite Vega Magic in the Group One Memsie Stakes and stablemate Seaburge in the same $1 million race.
Oakleigh Plate winner Sheidel resumes as favourite in the Group Three The Heath (1100m) and Hayes says she is forward enough for her return.
“She’s moving really well and all her work suggests she’s come back really well,” he said.
“It’s the track and distance where she won the Group One Oakleigh Plate and we’re really happy with her.”