Leading Australian bookmaker Alan Eskander believes David Hayes is the most likely trainer to end Peter Moody’s dominance as Victoria’s premier trainer in season 2013-14.
Moody clinched his fourth straight VIC Metro Trainer Premiership on Wednesday with 69 wins, 18 more than runner up Hayes. However, Hayes is expected to narrow the gap this season with Moody set to chase more winners in Sydney following the relocation of his NSW operation to Randwick this month, while the establishment of Hayes’ state-of-the-art complex in northern Victoria last year has proved highly successful.
Eskander’s Betstarhas launched its 2013-14 VIC Metro Trainer Premiership market with the pair equal favourites. “With the Euroa operation obviously working to full strength now for David Hayes, and Moody sending more horses to his Sydney base, Hayes has to be the one,” Eskander said.
“To put it in perspective, Hayes trained just 18 metro winners in the 2011-12 season, so we didn’t even have him in last season’s market.
“From not on the radar one year to $2.40 equal favourite the next, demonstrates the season I anticipate David Hayes to have.”
The combined winners of trainers Darren Weir and Danny O’Brien are next in betting at $7, while duo Anthony Freedman and Mark Kavanagh are $8.50 chances. (www.betstar.com.au).