Ben Hayes has learned through Madiyya’s career that opportunities don’t always come readily in each preparation.
Consequently, the narrow defeats suffered in her last two starts have been particularly difficult to swallow.
The Super Seth filly has been edged out in tight finishes on her previous two outings, each time finding herself unable to get clear until approximately 250 metres from the post, which was about 50 metres too late.
Madiyya, a mare nearing five years of age, has not competed in more than four races in any single campaign. However, Hayes has seen enough this preparation to feel confident she can bounce back in Saturday’s $130,000 Sportsbet Feed BM78 Handicap (1700m) at Caulfield.
“That’s been her problem as a horse, she’s never really handled her training,” Hayes shared.
“But this prep she’s actually held weight and doing really well.”
“She’s an older mare now and hopefully we can get the result, because when she gets it all together she’s got the ability.”
The two close calls, both occurring at Flemington, followed a fourth-place finish on her return, also at Flemington, where she was beaten just over 1-3/4 lengths by Capper Thirtynine.
Madiyya’s record across 10 starts shows she has never finished worse than fifth, with three wins, two second placings, and two thirds to her credit.
She has drawn barrier 11 for the 16-horse field on Saturday, and will be ridden by Jamie Mott, a jockey actively pursuing the metro jockeys’ premiership title.
Madiyya has a perfect record at Caulfield, winning her only two starts there. Saturday’s race will be the mare’s first attempt beyond 1600 metres, a distance Hayes considers her ready for, competing in the Trelawney Stud colours.
“I think (benchmark) 78, over 1700 should be ideal for her and she’s building fourth-up,” stated Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers Will and JD.
Madiyya, currently listed at $4.80 in the betting, will be joined in Saturday’s event by stablemate Oriental Smoke. Oriental Smoke, a $51 outsider, is making his fourth start since returning from a Hong Kong campaign, with Jackson Radley in the saddle.
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