A change of rider and a charge of gear has boosted trainer David Hayes’ confidence in Americain turning the tables on Manighar when they clash again in the Group 1 $500,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Americain

Americain will have a new jockey and use winkers in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes - photo (c) Taron Clarke

Hayes has engaged big race jockey Craig Williams and has added winkers to Americain’s gear list for the rematch with the Peter Moody trained Manighar who has taken all before him in the Autumn, with Group 1 wins in the $1m Dubai Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 10, the $400,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 24 and the $2.25m The BMW(2400m) at Rosehill on April 7.

Hayes has been striving to come up with a plan to get the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner back into the winner’s circle and thinks that the addition of winkers will get the seven old year to focus better during the race.

“He has had his work shortened up a bit and he has got winkers on for the first time,” Hayes said.

“He is due to get a good run and that might be the difference.”

And Hayes is very happy to have his old stable rider Williams on board replacing French jockey Gerald Mosse who set Americain a mighty task when wide near the tail of the field before running home for second to Manighar in the The BMW.

“I would expect him to settle closer,” Hayes said.

“I think he could have settled closer the other day but the jockey chose not to. He chose not to do anything.”

Americain and Manighar have clashed on several occasions with the Moody gelding getting the upper hand at their last two and as well as the the BMW defeat, Americain went to the line strongly first up to run third in the Australian Cup.

“If you chart their careers all over the world, there hasn’t been much between them for their whole lives,” Hayes said.

“I would say it is going to be a really good clash. We are not over confident but we know he is going to run really well.”

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.