Petrology will wear blinkers in the 2015 Memsie Stakes and co-trainer David Hayes believes that the gear change can help the talented entire return to his best form in the Group 1 event at Caulfield on Saturday.
Petrology has the chance to record a maiden win at the highest level of racing in the 2015 Memsie Stakes. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Petrology started his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a credible third place finish in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on July 25 and he looked like he was going to be involved in the finish at the top of the straight in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 15, but he failed to let down when asked for an extra effort by jockey Dwayne Dunn and he could finish no better than eighth.
Hayes was slightly disappointed with the way that Petrology finished the race in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes, but he is confident that the Fastnet Rock entire can finish in the 2015 Memsie Stakes placings if the blinkers help him apply himself in the final stages of the race.
“He has drawn a barrier and he has blinkers on,” Hayes said.
“I would certainly leave him in the multiplies.
“He has been looming up, but not quite finishing and I hope that blinkers could do the trick for him.”
Petrology will be joined in the 2015 Memsie Stakes field by new stablemate Rising Romance, who will be having her race start for the Lindsay Park team after being transferred from the stable of Donna Logan.
Rising Romance has been included in the nominations for both the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and her major spring targets are well down the road, but Hayes believes that the Ekraar mare will hit the line strongly in the Memsie Stakes and is in for a big 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign.
“I am very excited about this mare,” Hayes said.
“We have taken the view to put her in fresh, but we just think that the Memsie is the ideal time to kick-off.
“She will be ridden patiently from the barrier and if the tempo is strong enough she will really be finishing strongly.
“I am really, really excited about her spring prospects.”
Petrology is currently available at 2015 Memsie Stakes odds of $16 with Ladbrokes, while Rising Romance has been backed from $12 into $11 in early betting for the Group 1 event.
Hayes is chasing his third win in the Memsie Stakes after previously taking out the race with Palace Reign in 1993 and Miss Finland in 2007.
