Trainer David Hayes will get a clearer picture of the ability of quality import Jet Away when he lines up in a classy field in the Group 1 $400,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Jet Away takes of the Easter Cup at Caulfield at his 2nd Australian start. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Jet Away has had two runs for two wins for Hayes since arriving from England and will face his toughest test to date in the weight for age Underwood Stakes.
The seven year old stallion scored at his first run in Australia in the $150,000 Yalumba Golden Mile (1600m) at Bendigo on March 16 before winning the Group 3 $150,000 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on March 30.
Hayes is aiming the import towards the Group 1 $2.65m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 19 and will get a good gauge on where he is at coming up against Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune, Foreteller, Green Moon and possibly Atlantic Jewel in the Underwood Stakes.
“He’s pretty good I think, very good, but it’s a bit hard to be tipping him against the best two weight-for-age horses in Australia,” Hayes told Racing Network.
“He’s been set for the Caulfield Cup, that’s when he’ll be at his top, so he’ll be vastly improved by whatever he does on Saturday.”
Foreteller and Puissance De Lune are set to clash again after the Chris Waller trained giant killer nabbed the Melbourne Cup favourite right on the line in the Group 1 $350,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 7.
And trainer Mark Kavanagh will decide later in the week if he will back up his super mare Atlantic Jewel in the Underwood Stakes after she took her undefeated winning sequence to nine with an effortless win in the Group 2 $220,000 Top Cut Stocks Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley last Saturday.
Jet Away is well in contention in the Caulfield Cup market order at $17 alongside of the Marco Botti trained Dandino.
Chris Waller’s Queensland Derby winner Hawkspur heads the betting at $9 with Australian Cup winner Super Cool at $10, last Saturday’s Moonee Valley winner Fiorente at $14 and Australian Oaks winner Royal Descent at $15.
