Trainer David Hayes has revealed that the 2014 The Metropolitan at Royal Randwick on Saturday will be the likely target for imported stayer Spillway.
Spillway will have his last chance to earn a place in the Caulfield Cup field when he contests The Metropolitan on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Hayes said last week that he will include Spillway in the acceptances for both the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) and Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday, but he confirmed yesterday that he was 95 percent sure that the Rail Link entire would make the trip to Sydney.
Spillway will likely need to win either The Metropolitan or Turnbull Stakes in order to secure a in the field for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18 and Hayes believes that Spillway has a better chance under the handicap conditions of The Metropolitan.
“Pending good weather, he is definitely going to Sydney, but he’ll be dual accepted in case there is an issue with the weather,” Hayes said.
“I just think in the Turnbull he will run into the best weight-for-age horses in town and in the Sydney race he would be close to favourite.
“I would expect him to be close to peaking in this race.”
Spillway joined the Hayes stable at the end of 2014 after making his racing debut under the care of Eve Johnson Houghton in the United Kingdom and had his first Australian race start in the Listed Golden Mile (1600m) at Bendigo on March 15.
The talented stayer finished eighth behind Junoob in the Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on April 5 before he claimed his maiden race win in Australia with an impressive performance in the Group 3 Japan Racing Association Plate (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 26.
Spillway started his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a close second behind Star Rolling in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 16 and he finished a close fourth behind Dissident in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 13.
He started as a clear favourite in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m), which offers the winner ballot exempt entry into the Caulfield Cup, but he was blocked for a run in the straight and was never able to be a factor in the finish.
Spillway is currently available at The Metropolitan odds of $4.40 with Ladbrokes Australia, while he is priced at a quote of $15 to take out the Caulfield Cup.
