The Lindsay Park trained Faatinah will be tested at 1300m for the first time when he lines up in the Group 3 $150,000 Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Sandown on Saturday.

Faatinah, above, will be tested at 1300m for the first time in the Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Sandown. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Co-trainer David Hayes, who trains in partnership with his son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig, is happy with the Spring Carnival form of Faatinah who has been runner up at his last two starts and is keen to stretch him out to 1300m.

Faatinah ran a brave second to Our Boy Malachi in the Group 2 $200,000 Dilmah For Lovers Of Tea Caulfield Sprint (1000m) at Caulfield on October 15 and followed that with a second under 58.5kg to Flippant in the Listed $150,000 MSS Security Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on November 1.

“He is on trial at the distance,” Hayes said.

“He ran well Cup week with Ryan Moore, to run a huge second with a huge weight.”

“At weight for age I think he will be well suited ad I am looking forward at seeing him at 1300m, he is untried at that distance.”

Faatinah is the winner of four of his eleven starts with his latest victory being a first up win in the Group 2 $200,000 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington on September 10 with apprentice Regan Bayliss on board.

Bayliss is back in the saddle on Faatinah in the Kevin Heffernan Stakes replacing top English rider Ryan Moore and the four year old should get the run of the race from barrier two in the eleven horse field.

Stradbroke Handicap winner Under The Louvre sits at the top of the market order for the Kevin Heffernan Stakes at $4 with Ladbrokes.com.au while Faatinah is listed as s $7 chance.

Also high up in the betting is the Peter Gelagotis trained Illustrious Lad at $4.40, Darren Weir’s Group 1 winner Lucky Hussler at $4.80 and Andrew Noblet’s Super Cash at $8.