Lindsay Park’s training trio of Ben, Will, and J D Hayes are eager to break their long drought in the Australian Guineas when Ndola lines up in Saturday’s Group 1 1600m feature at Flemington.
The stable has not won the Australian Guineas since David Hayes prepared Miss Finland to victory in 2007. Historically, Lindsay Park dominated the early years of the race, securing three wins in the first five editions with Military Plume (1987), King’s High (1989), and Zabeel (1990) under the guidance of Colin Hayes.
Ndola enters the race third-up this campaign, having shown marked improvement from his first-up last-place finish at Sandown on January 25 to a strong runner-up effort behind Sepals in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) on February 8.
Ben Hayes is confident that Ndola is peaking at the right time, having gained valuable fitness from his recent runs.
“He has come out of his last race in great shape despite having a tough wide draw,” Hayes said.
“The step up to 1600m is what we’ve been building towards, and his run in the CS Hayes was excellent. He has taken another step forward since then, and we’re excited to see what he can do.”
This will be Ndola’s first attempt at the 1600m distance, but Hayes does not see it as an obstacle, noting the colt’s previous performances over 1400m.
Last spring, Ndola was originally being prepared for the Caulfield Guineas (1600m), but the team decided he needed more time to mature before tackling such a challenge.
“He’s a big, strong colt, and we’ve always had this race in mind for him,” Hayes said.
“He had a minor setback early, but he has developed beautifully since his first-up run. His progression has been really pleasing.”
Hayes believes Ndola is now physically and mentally ready to perform at the highest level.
“We gave him a break in the spring to let him mature, and it has paid off. He looks fantastic and getting back on a firmer track will suit him.”
“Based on the ratings, his last race looks to be the key form reference, and we are confident he will put in a big performance.”
