Stars come out for spring racing
Trainer David Hayes has high hopes for Star Fashion in tomorrow’s Morphettville Guineas as spring racing steps up a gear across Australian race tracks.
Hayes has runners in three states and is a big wrap for his sprint star Fast ‘N’ Rocking in the $1 million Group One Golden Rose at Rosehill.
“Star Fashion’s run at Caulfield was terrific and Morphettville will suit her,” Hayes said after trackwork yesterday.
“We’ve got high hopes for her and looking for a ‘black type’ win.”
Hayes name Fast ‘N’ Rocking as his best prospect this weekend.
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“I am confident. He’s terrific odds and his work’s been first class this week.
“He’s in good order and in great form so we’re hoping he can run well and develop into a stallion prospect for the owners.”
There’ll be plenty of interest Saturday on the return to racing of start jockey Damien Oliver after a controversial suspension for race betting.
Adelaide trainer Paul Beshara has engaged Oliver to ride Happy Trails in the Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) among his mounts.
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Happy Trails won the Dato Tan last year with Glen Boss aboard.
Oliver rode the gelding to win the Group One Emirates Stakes on November 10 last year, the day before he started his 10 month ban for placing a $10,000 bet on Miss Octopussy at Moonee Valley on October 1, 2010 when he rode another horse in the same race.
Beshara is delighted to have Oliver riding for him again.
“I feel real good about it. He has a great association with the horse,” Beshara said.
“He deserves to be there – he’s a champion jockey and a credit to racing.”
Oliver has been riding trackwork and trials for the past two months and is set to make his race return at Geelong on Friday.
Beshara was full of praise for Happy Trails for his effort at his last outing in the Group One Memsie Stakes on August 31 when he finished seventh behind Atlantic Jewel.
“It was a massive run in the Memsie,” Beshara said.
“He’s only been beaten by a length out of second place as a whole bunch went over the line.”
The South Australian trainer is now focusing on maintaining an upward curve for Happy Trails, aiming to have the the gelding peaking for the Cox Plate on October 26 at Moonee Valley.
– with AAP
