The Lindsay Park stable, managed by Ben, Will, and J D Hayes, will receive an indication of Cafe Millenium’s readiness following an earlier event on Saturday’s Caulfield racecard.
Cafe Millenium is slated to make its first-up appearance in the Evergreen Turf Handicap, a 1400-metre race, occurring two events after Mr Brightside’s return from an injury-enforced spell in the prestigious Group 1 Memsie Stakes over the same distance and track.
Having previously been prepared in Sydney by trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, Cafe Millenium has spent its last two preparations under the care of the Hayes brothers.
Cafe Millenium has shown considerable improvement, progressing from a benchmark 84 victory in its second start for Lindsay Park to achieving success on three separate occasions at Listed level.
It is precisely for this reason that Cafe Millenium has been utilized as the sparring partner for Mr Brightside throughout his preparation for a return to racing, following surgery to address a bone chip in his fetlock earlier in the year.
While Mr Brightside benefited from participating in a trial at Caulfield Heath two Saturdays prior, Cafe Millenium galloped with its more renowned stablemate between races at Sandown last week, narrowly edging out the Lindsay Park star.
“He’s been the work partner of Mr Brightside the whole way through the preparation,” Ben Hayes explained.
“And I think Cafe Millennium is going particularly well and he’s not just a morning glory.
“He’s always worked well at home, and he always gives you confidence going into races, whereas Brightside is the opposite, always being a bit lazy in his gallops.”
Apprentice jockey Jackson Radley has been associated with Cafe Millenium during its preparation for its racing return, which included winning a 1000-metre jump-out at Flemington on August 14.
“Jacko has been very happy with his work, and we think he will run well fresh,” Hayes stated.
Although Radley’s 2kg claim effectively reduces Cafe Millenium’s impost to 60kg on Saturday, the combination must navigate the second widest draw in the 15-horse field.
The corresponding benchmark 100 race last year was won by Sepals when resuming, who three weeks later went on to capture the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes over Saturday’s course and distance.
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