Stablemates Sheidel and Keen Array will head to Perth to contest the Group 1 $1m Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on November 26.
Sheidel, above, red and whire colours, is set to run in the Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Sheidel and Keen Array will join the other Lindsay Park trained galloper He Or She who is also heading west to run in the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot this Saturday.
Both the sprinters visited the winner’s stall during the Melbourne Spring Carnival which earned them a start in the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 5, the last day of the four day Melbourne Cup Carnival.
But while neither filled a placing, Sheidel fifth and Keen Array seventh, co-trainer David Hayes said that they have pulled up well and he is keen to give them another shot at Group 1 company.
“We gave them a little leg stretch on Saturday morning and they were flying,” Hayes told AAP.
“I expect them to run well.”
Hayes now trains in partnership with his son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig but had success on his own in the past in the Winterbottom Stakes with wins by Century God in 1990 and Glory Hunter in 2007.
Sheidel was successful twice from five Spring Carnival runs with a win in the Group 3 $150,000 Cape Grim Beef Steaks (1200m) at Caulfield on October 8 followed by a win in the Group 3 $200,000 Sensis Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on October 29.
Keen Array also visited the winner’s stall on two occasions from five Spring Carnival starts for a victory in the Listed $120,000 Fight Cancer Foundation Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on September 17 followed by a win in the Listed $120,000 Italktravel Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on October 12.
Sheidel with Damien Oliver booked to ride, is the most fancied of the Lindsay Park trained sprinters and is marked at $9 for the Winterbottom Stakes while Keen Array is rated a $15 chance.
The Joe Pride trained Terravista sits at the top of the market order at $3.20 just ahead of the Darley Classic winner Malaguerra at $3.50.
Market order for the Winterbottom Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.20 Terravista, $3.50 Malaguerra, $7 State Solicitor, Takedown, $9 Sheidel, Vega Magic, $13 Rock Magic, $15 Kaepernick, Keen Array, $17 Japonisme, King River, Voodoo Lad, $21 Ball Of Muscle, First Among Equals, Lucky Street, $26 or more the rest.
