Kent targets Hayes Stakes for top 3YO Philippi

Progressive three-year-old Philippi is back in work at Mick Kent's Cranbourne stables with the unbeaten colt on track for a return to the track during the Melbourne Festival of Racing.Philippi currently has three wins from three career starts including a last start victory in the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington.Kent had accepted with Philippi in the Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) two weeks after the UCI Stakes but pulled the pin with an eye on the horse's future."He's grown

Progressive three-year-old Philippi is back in work at Mick Kent's Cranbourne stables with the unbeaten colt on track for a return to the track during the Melbourne Festival of Racing.

Philippi currently has three wins from three career starts including a last start victory in the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington.

Kent had accepted with Philippi in the Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) two weeks after the UCI Stakes but pulled the pin with an eye on the horse's future.

"He's grown and developed a bit more during his break and I'm happy with him," Kent said.

Kent said he may target the Group 3 C.S. Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington for the colts first up run before progressing on a path through the Melbourne Festival of Racing three-year-old staying features.

"He's been back in work now for about five or six weeks," he said.

"We'll probably start him off in the C.S. Hayes and then go to the Autumn Classic (Group 2, Caulfield 1800m) and Alister Clark (Group 2, Moonee Valley 2040m).

"Depending on how he goes we might then either head to the Derby in either Sydney or Adelaide.

"I think the ten furlongs (2000m) is really a good trip for him but he's got enough quality and he relaxes well enough that he'd probably get over a trip as a three-year-old."

The $150,000 Group 3 C.S. Hayes Stakes is run at Flemington on February 16th and is a race Kent has enjoyed success in winning the 2009 edition with Hong Kong bound galloper Fair Trade.