DAVID Hayes has claims on both group 1 races at Caulfield tomorrow but it will be the Australian debut of the controversial Irish horse Changingoftheguard that could have a longer-lasting impact for the stable, reports The Age.It says: Hayes bought the horse from Coolmore last September to contest the Melbourne Cup and, while that did not happen when veterinary stewards ruled him unfit on race morning, the trainer has not downgraded his ambition. ''It's about getting him ready for the Melbourne
DAVID Hayes has claims on both group 1 races at Caulfield tomorrow but it will be the Australian debut of the controversial Irish horse Changingoftheguard that could have a longer-lasting impact for the stable, reports The Age.
It says: Hayes bought the horse from Coolmore last September to contest the Melbourne Cup and, while that did not happen when veterinary stewards ruled him unfit on race morning, the trainer has not downgraded his ambition. ''It's about getting him ready for the Melbourne Cup next spring so we'd be hoping for a couple of solid efforts this autumn starting with the St George [Stakes] on Saturday,'' Hayes said.
''He really is pleasing me and while I'd be happy to see him finish off nicely, he's that sort of horse that could just jump out of the ground and put his stamp on things.''
Changingoftheguard is rated a $10 chance for a first-up St George win.
Hayes will saddle Eagle Falls ($9) in the group 1 Oakleigh Plate and has three promising youngsters Shaheeq ($13), Legalistic ($23) and Evidentia ($21) representing the stable in the Blue Diamond Stakes.
The Blue Diamond Stakes field was reduced to 15 yesterday with the scratching of the Leon Corstens-trained Danzero colt Tricky Tricky, with a virus.