Lindsay Park will target both Group One’s in Brisbane on Saturday, with the decision made to send staying filly Chase Your Dreams (NZ) (Contributer) up against the boys in the A$1 million Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m).
Co-trainer Ben Hayes said on Monday that it was felt the timing of the Derby works better for the recent Gr.3 SA Classic (2500m) runner-up than waiting a further week for the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m).
“We just felt that it would be a month (between runs), which was a bit awkward and there wasn’t a good place to take her to trial and we just didn’t think we could keep the work up to her,” explained Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers JD and Will.
“We’d also be dropping back from 2500 metres to 2200, so the 2400 of the Derby should be ideal.
“Hopefully she can draw a barrier as she’s really done well and travelled up well.”
A $40,000 yearling purchase at Karaka by Contributor, Chase Your Dreams came off a lowly Benchmark 64 (2100m) win at Echuca to a last-start, fast-finishing second in the SA Classic, where she didn’t enjoy the best of runs.
“Just the way the race worked out, she couldn’t get rolling when she wanted last start with the horse to her outside,” Hayes said. “She just pulled that little bit as well and the three weeks with travel is perfect for her, so the Derby just came up at the perfect time.”
The Derby has become a target for a handful of fillies this year, with Chase Yours Dreams likely to be joined in the classic by Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2500m) winner Femminile (Dundeel) and Gr.3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) winner Belle Detelle (Zed).
The SA Classic’s third placegetter, Sweltering (Too Darn Hot), may also find herself in the final acceptances for the Derby on Tuesday morning.
Hayes said the stable is confident Rise At Dawn (NZ) (Almanzor) will be ready to challenge for Saturday’s Gr.1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) after a decision last week to forgo his planned first Queensland run.
“He travelled well but not as well as we would have liked, so we just thought the extra week would be better for him and we’re glad because he’s bouncing this morning and is really happy and well and eating up,” Hayes said.
Fresh from his Doomben Cup romp aboard Antino (NZ) (Redwood) last Saturday, Blake Shinn will ride both Lindsay Park horses in Saturday’s Group Ones.