A substantial amount of time has passed for War Machine in the last twelve months.
On the corresponding weekend in the previous year, the Ben, Will and Jd Hayes-trained War Machine was competing in Sydney in The Everest.
Although it did not unfold as the Lindsay Park trainers had hoped, War Machine had entered that race in excellent form, having won the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm and the Gilgai Stakes at Flemington in the lead-up events.
The Hayes brothers had been anticipating what could potentially lie ahead, but it wasn’t until the Group 3 Harry White Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday that War Machine returned to the winner’s enclosure.
Ridden by Mark Zahra, War Machine ($3.70) held off the $2.50 favourite Private Eye by a margin of a head, with Hughes ($12) finishing three-quarters of a length behind in third position.
The victory meant Private Eye missed out on consecutive wins.
Ben Hayes commented that War Machine had been a fantastic horse for the stable and it was rewarding to finally see the gelding back performing at its best.
“He’s been a super horse for us, but he’s been a bit frustrating since winning a few Stakes races last year,” Hayes conveyed.
“Things haven’t quite gone his way with wide barrier and tracks, and we scratched him four times before we found the right race.
“He had a good run today, a great ride from Mark and it was good to get a class drop into a race like that.”
Zahra picked his way through the field before hitting the front early in the straight, and Hayes mentioned he was impressed by the fight War Machine showed when the runner-up attempted to overtake him.
Hayes stated that there were options available at Flemington during the upcoming Melbourne Cup Carnival that the Lindsay Park team would consider.
“I would like to see how he pulls up first because we do have the option of coming back in trip or going up in trip,” Hayes advised.
“He’s got a lot of options. He’s a good 1400-metre horse and he’s good down the straight as well, so we’ll have a good talk to the ownership group, and we’ll make that decision over a nice drink and enjoy the win.”
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