Lindsay Park fulfilled their summer ambitions via Apulia and now shift gears for autumn endeavors.
Both Apulia and fellow stablemate Plymouth contest the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington this coming Saturday, as trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes aim to propel them toward the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) over the same course on March 28.
Having been runner-up in the Victoria Derby at three, Apulia was primed for the Perth Summer Carnival, which delivered the Group 2 Perth Cup win for the gelding.
Returning from a 12-month injury layoff last spring, Apulia notched successive wins at Moonee Valley and Flemington before making the journey to Perth.
Following a mid-pack showing in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes, Apulia secured the lead-in Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) en route to his Perth Cup (2400m) victory on January 1.
To gear up for his Saturday reappearance, Apulia had a trial at Flemington last week, and Ben Hayes confirmed the stable’s approval of the session.
“He’s got good residual fitness from his trip to Perth, and we’ve kept him happy since he’s been back,” Hayes said.
“He had a good hit-out on the course proper last week in the jump-out where he was good through the line, and it showed he is on track.
“The mile will be at the shorter end for him, but he has won good races over that track and trip previously, so he can run well fresh.
“He was a fantastic three-year-old, but we just had to be on the patient side since with an injury and he’s come back great.
“He nearly won a Derby, he was a centimetre away, and it’s great to have him back.”
Hayes outlined the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on March 14 as the likely follow-up for Apulia ahead of the Australian Cup.
Plymouth follows suit on the autumn trail, and Hayes revealed delight from him and his brothers at the gelding’s resuming fourth, closing strongly behind Tom Kitten in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield February 7.
That effort was Plymouth’s first post-spring, highlighted by his Benalla Cup success and second placing in the Caulfield Cup.
“He was a great run first-up in the Kevin Heffernan and he’s on a similar path to the Australian Cup,” Hayes said.
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