Two recent additions to the Lindsay Park stable are set to clash at Sandown this Saturday, though co-trainers Ben, Will, and JD Hayes admit they’re not thrilled with the barrier draws.

Katsu and Kristilli are scheduled to line up in the Thoroughbred Club of Australia Handicap (1000m), and both gallopers have been showing positive signs ahead of their returns to the track.

Previously trained by Grahame Begg, Katsu once had genuine claims for Group 1 success and was in the mix for the Oakleigh Plate earlier this year. He captured the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in December 2023 but struggled to produce his best in the W J Adams Stakes the following January. After that, he went winless in five subsequent outings for Begg.

Despite the dip in form, Ben Hayes says the team has been impressed with Katsu’s trial efforts since joining their yard. “He’s a tricky horse to train,” Hayes said. “He’s a strong horse in trackwork but very fast and hopefully he can run well first-up for the stable.

“His trial form is very strong. The horse that beat him in his first one was from Grahame Begg’s yard (Niance) that went on and won a Stakes race.”

Kristilli, on the other hand, is now with her third trainer. After originally racing under the care of Annabel Neasham in Sydney—where she won the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m)—she was transferred to Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr for two runs late in 2023 before joining the Hayes camp.

Hayes explained that her early Group success worked against her in terms of handicapping. “We’ve been lucky to get her as her rating starts to get low, so this would be one of the easier races that she has run in, and I think she can run well,” he said.

“She has trialled up nicely and done everything right and I think it will be a nice race for her to blow out the cobwebs. I think it’s a nice kick-off for both of them.”

Apprentice Logan Bates has been booked to ride Katsu and will claim 3kg off his 63kg impost, while Harry Coffey takes the reins aboard Kristilli.