David Hayes has a New Zealand-bred superstar heading into the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) in two weeks, where his sons Ben, Will and JD Hayes might line up against him with a Kiwi-bred Group One winner of their own.
Lindsay Park’s last-start Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) hero War Machine kicked off his new campaign in sparkling style in Saturday’s A$300,000 Gr.2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
The Hayes team hopes War Machine’s blockbuster first-up performance caught the eye of a slot-holder for The Everest at Randwick on October 18, for which he is now rated a $15 chance. That market is dominated by David Hayes’ freakish Hong Kong sprinter Ka Ying Rising at $1.70. The reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year is a son of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress.
“It’s exciting,” Will Hayes said. “There’s a good one in there (Ka Ying Rising), but we are happy to take him on if we get the opportunity.
“Ka Ying Rising is an amazing horse and we have a good one too. It’s a good problem to have.”
War Machine was previously trained by the late Mike Moroney, then transferred into the Hayes stable following the respected horseman’s passing earlier in the year. War Machine is now unbeaten in four appearances for Lindsay Park – a 1400m Benchmark 100 handicap at Caulfield on May 10, the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Eagle Farm on May 24, the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on June 14, and Saturday’s Gilgai Stakes.
The five-year-old went into his resuming run on the back of two jumpouts, finishing second in the most recent of them at Flemington on September 25. Despite a hefty 60kg topweight, War Machine was sent out as a warm favourite on Saturday at $2.90.
Jockey Blake Shinn got War Machine away cleanly from his outside gate and he was able to take up a handy position, cuddled up in behind the second favourite and 2023 Gilgai Stakes winner Star Patrol.
Shinn was still sitting quietly in the saddle when Star Patrol’s jockey pushed the button and drove his mount to the front with 400m to run.
Under a hands-and-heels ride, War Machine swept past Star Patrol in the final 200m. Bridal Waltz tried hard to go with the favourite, but War Machine was on another level and went on to win by two lengths. He stopped the clock at 1:08.53 for 1200m.
“Everything went to plan,” Shinn said. “Drawing 17, I felt we’d be able to follow Star Patrol and he could take us where we wanted to go.
“I wanted to conserve his energy for as long as possible with the 60 kilos. He travelled strongly, but not too keen. I waited until just prior to the clock tower to really push the button and I knew he’d be there for me. Well done to the Hayes boys and their team.
“He’s a Group One winner and I think he’s come back better this prep. It is exciting for Rupert Legh (owner) and his whole crew and it is nice to kick off his campaign here today.
“We felt that he might be able to make a statement for The Everest today and there might be a few people knocking. Aside from Ka Ying Rising, it might be an open race, and he wouldn’t be out of place in an Everest. He’s got so much upside. Let’s see what happens.”
Bred by MDJ Bloodstock Ltd, War Machine was offered for sale at both the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales and the Ready To Run Sale via the Wallace family’s Ardsley Stud, but failed to reach his $100,000 reserve on both occasions.
By Harry Angel out of the winning Hussonet mare Caserta, the gelding subsequently went into training with Jim Wallace and won his only trial at Foxton by six lengths before his private purchase.
War Machine has now had 14 starts for seven wins, four placings and A$2.66 million in stakes.
“He’s a really special animal and he is a pleasure to train,” Hayes said. “Very proud of the horse carrying 60 kilos first-up down the straight today. He has thrived in the country environment and he can get a bit up on his toes, so he has relaxed in his trackwork. He has been nothing but a blessing for us.”
