The Goodwood has not been a happy hunting ground for David Hayes, but the prominent Lindsay Park co-trainer is confident that he is faced with his best chance of success in the Morphettville feature on Saturday after confirming five runners.
Churchill Dancer is one of five for David Hayes & Tom Dabernig in The Goodwood 2016 field. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia
Hayes and co-trainer Tom Dabernig have confirmed all of Churchill Dancer (barrier 15), Fast ‘N’ Rocking (barrier 16), Faatinah (barrier 10), Miss Promiscuity (barrier 8) and Sheidel (barrier 12); saddling a quarter of the capacity The Goodwood field of twenty.
Hayes told the Sydney Morning Herald that while each runner carries a different form line into The Goodwood, he considers each a realistic chance of success in the South Australian feature race.
“All five of them are come in with different form lines but they all represent great chances for the stable,” Hayes said.
“All the horses are in good shape, including Miss Promiscuity who’s overcome her fall in the Sangster Stakes and she hasn’t missed a beat since that race.
“Fast ‘N’ Rocking is a high-class sprinter and Faatinah is a three-year-old of enormous potential and a last start winner.
“The Goodwood has been one of those races that have just managed to escape me. But this year, with five very good sprinters, all are capable of winning at this level.”
Churchill Dancer has produced a number of gutsy efforts through four starts in 2016; most notably a close second in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) and credible fourth in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on March 12th.
A strong and consistent performer for Lindsay Park through his entire racing career so far, Fast ‘N’ Rocking has continued to improve this time; following up a credible mid-pack performance in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) a close third in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) most recently.
Faatinah has only made seven career starts leading into The Goodwood, but produced undoubtedly her most impressive effort to date to win the Group 2 Euclase Stakes over course and distance a fortnight ago.
A black type winner, Miss Promiscuity was unlucky to lose rider Luke Nolen in transit during the running of the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) two weeks ago, but has undoubtedly drawn the most-favourably of all Lindsay Park runners in The Goodwood.
Sheidel finished an agonizingly-close second in the Robert Sangster Stakes last start, but will undoubtedly require luck in running on Saturday after drawing awkwardly.
