War Machine was unable to show his usual explosive turn of foot in The Everest, but co-trainer Ben Hayes has advised punters to remain patient and keep the faith in the powerful sprinter.
The Group 1-winning gelding will be given the chance to bounce back when he lines up in the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes at Randwick this Saturday.
The 1300-metre feature marks War Machine’s first run since he finished 10th in The Everest, which was only his second outing of the preparation. Hayes believes the spring still holds plenty of upside.
“He sprinted really well fresh and then got a bit crowded and a bit further back than we wanted in the Everest and then he was good through the line,” Hayes said.
“The 1300 is right up his alley and he’ll now be third-up and ready to go and he’ll go really well.
“We go to the Russell Balding and then we’ve got the Orr Stakes on the 15th (of November) and that’s probably been his Grand Final race for the spring.”
Prior to The Everest, War Machine resumed with a dominant win in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 4. That performance followed his breakthrough Group 1 victory in the 1400m Stradbroke Handicap on June 14.
He was well supported by punters ahead of The Everest, starting $10 third favourite behind Ka Ying Rising, but after being shuffled back early he never came into contention and finished more than three lengths from the winner.
“Obviously we were a little disappointed with his Everest run, but he did actually finish off really strongly and ran quite good sectionals. I think only Angel Capital ran better sectionals than him,” Hayes said.
“He’s got a lot of improvement (to come), he’s only third-up into the Russell Balding, so don’t discount him.”
Tim Clark, who partnered War Machine in both his Stradbroke triumph and Everest appearance, keeps the ride and the gelding has drawn ideally in barrier seven.
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