David Hayes will try to do a Von Costa De Hero with Bawaardi and run him in the $3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes if he wins Saturday's Group Two Sires' Produce Stakes at Flemington.Hayes won the Sires (1400m) with Von Costa De Hero last year and that colt went on to Sydney and finished a half-head second to Sebring in the Golden Slipper (1200m) on a heavy track."I thought his (Bawaardi's) Blue Diamond run was great from a very awkward gate and if he can come out and do something in the Sires I
David Hayes will try to do a Von Costa De Hero with Bawaardi and run him in the $3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes if he wins Saturday's Group Two Sires' Produce Stakes at Flemington.
Hayes won the Sires (1400m) with Von Costa De Hero last year and that colt went on to Sydney and finished a half-head second to Sebring in the Golden Slipper (1200m) on a heavy track.
"I thought his (Bawaardi's) Blue Diamond run was great from a very awkward gate and if he can come out and do something in the Sires I might do a Von Costa with him and put him straight in the race (Golden Slipper)," Hayes said.
"We haven't got two-year-olds coming out of trees like the last couple of years, but he's on the rise."
A $1.3 million purchase at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Bawaardi is by champion stallion Redoute's Choice out of the dual stakeswinner Stella Artois who has already produced the Group Two winner Freestyle.
Bawaardi has raced three times, finishing on strongly for third to Starspangledbanner in the Inglis Juvenile (1000m) at Moonee Valley at his debut on Cox Plate day.
The colt returned with a win in a Ballarat two-year-old maiden (1000m) on January 25 before jumping from the outside barrier, 13, when sixth to Reward For Effort in the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 21.
Hayes won the Sires with Blevic in 1994 and when he won the race with De Lago Mist in 2006 he also had the runner-up Ulfah and third-placed Danever.
Five Sires winners have gone on to win the Golden Slipper - Pago Pago (1963), Storm Queen (1966), Vain (1969), Full On Aces (1981) and Canny Lad (1990).
Racegoers will see a new look Rostova in the Sires.
The Steve Richards-trained filly, who started favourite in the Blue Diamond and was beaten for the first time in four starts when fifth, will be wearing white silks with a red Country Fire Authority logo, red sleeves and a red cap as part of the racing industry's fundraising activities for volunteer firefighters.
Richards has also made gear changes on the Testa Rossa filly who will wear a tongue tie, crossover nose band and standard bit for the first time.
Rostova, the $2.80 favourite on TAB Sportsbet's fixed odds market, drew barrier six while Bawaardi, second pick at $4.20, drew out in gate 10 in the 13-horse field.
Trainer Clinton McDonald has scratched Devils Force from the Sires and he will run in Sunday's Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra.
Representing McDonald in the Sires will be Bombay Sling ($6) who last start won the Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at Launceston on February 25.