David Hayes is optimistic Cross Street can go one better than he did first-up with a win at Sandown on Wednesday.Cross Street was beaten a neck when runner-up to Verdasco over 1200m at Moonee Valley when resuming on December 3.Hayes has removed a one-eyed blinker on the near side of the Jeune four-year-old for the Betfair Hcp (1300m) in which he will be ridden again by Steven Arnold.Apart from the gear change, Hayes said Cross Street had also been gelded since his previous campaign."He's always

David Hayes is optimistic Cross Street can go one better than he did first-up with a win at Sandown on Wednesday.

Cross Street was beaten a neck when runner-up to Verdasco over 1200m at Moonee Valley when resuming on December 3.

Hayes has removed a one-eyed blinker on the near side of the Jeune four-year-old for the Betfair Hcp (1300m) in which he will be ridden again by Steven Arnold.

Apart from the gear change, Hayes said Cross Street had also been gelded since his previous campaign.

"He's always shown ability and I think he might take the next step," Hayes said.

Cross Street races in the same colours of the Western Bulldogs AFL team as did his half-brother Minson who won his first six starts including the 2006 Listed Zeditave Stakes and The Debonair and Bletchingly Stakes, both at Group Three level.

Cross Street's debut run was also in a Group Three when he was ninth to Starspangledbanner in the McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in August 2009.

The following month he was runner-up to subsequent 2009 Group Two AAMI Vase winner Hanks over 1300m at Sandown.

Second-up in his following preparation he landed his first and only win in seven starts to date when beating The Comedian over 1400m at Sandown in February this year.

He then ran second to War Ends over 1400m at Sandown before finishing fourth to Amaethon over 1400m at Caulfield in April.

Hayes is currently second in the Melbourne trainers' premiership with 16 winners behind runaway leader Peter Moody who has chalked up 36 winners so far this season.

At Sandown, the Hayes stable will saddle up five runners in four races while Moody has three runners.

Michael Walker will ride Hayes' last-start Cranbourne winner Ruby Slippers in the Noni B Hcp (1600m) with Dean Holland aboard Feel Like Dancing in the same event.

Brad Rawiller will ride Marcellus in the Murcotts Hcp (1600m) with Walker aboard Recorrido in the Ahern's At Highways Hcp (1300m).

Galileo three-year-old Marcellus will appreciate the drop in class after his sixth, beaten just over two lengths, to Belgietto over 1630m at Flemington last Saturday week.

Hayes gives Rubiton mare Recorrido a chance to break through for a long overdue win at what will be her 15th start after her encouraging first-up third to Adulterer in a 1200m maiden at Moonee Valley on December 3.

"She's still a maiden but she probably shouldn't be," he said.

The mare has raced exclusively in the metropolitan area in Melbourne and Adelaide and has also been placed at Caulfield, Flemington and Morphettville.

The Sandown Lakeside track was rated a slow (6) on Tuesday with the rail in the true position for the meeting.