After enjoying success across the Tasman last season, Ben Hayes is confident lightning can strike again as Arkansaw Kid lines up in Saturday’s Railway Stakes at Ellerslie.
The five-year-old sprinter will kick off a two-run New Zealand campaign, mirroring the path taken by stablemate Here To Shock, who claimed the Group 1 BDC Group Sprint in February last year.
That victory has given the Hayes stable confidence to attempt the same blueprint.
“He left after his trial last week and we are really happy with him,” Ben Hayes said.
“It is full steam ahead.”
The son of Harry Angel tuned up for the assignment with a strong jump-out win over 800 metres at Flemington on January 9, following a brave third-place finish in the $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham in December.
That form has stacked up well, with multiple runners from the race going on to win or place since.
“We had success last year and Arkansaw Kid, I think he is a very good group two horse in Australia who is competitive in group ones but always finds one better,” Hayes added.
“We thought it is a great opportunity to try and win a group one with him.
“With the set weights and penalties conditions, he gets in there quite nicely in the weights.
“He will then go on to the same race that Here To Shock won, then maybe the Canterbury Stakes in Sydney after that.”
Arkansaw Kid is already attracting attention from punters, with markets available through leading Australian betting sites ahead of Saturday’s Group 1.
The gelding was last seen finishing runner-up in the The Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne on November 22, beaten by Jigsaw, who also heads to Ellerslie.
The post Kid ready to roll in Railway Stakes first appeared on Just Horse Racing.