Giant four-year-old Largo Lad earned a trip to Sydney for a crack at the $2 million Doncaster when he landed his best victory yet in the Group Two Blamey Stakes at Flemington.A brilliant ground-saving ride by Chris Symons and a soft track helped Largo Lad, backed from $10 to $9.50, to a length win over Playwright ($7.50) with Just Look ($26) a length away third in the 1600m feature.Largo Lad was previously owned by Jim Racovolis and prepared by John Ledger at Wangaratta.Hayes and stable clients
Giant four-year-old Largo Lad earned a trip to Sydney for a crack at the $2 million Doncaster when he landed his best victory yet in the Group Two Blamey Stakes at Flemington.
A brilliant ground-saving ride by Chris Symons and a soft track helped Largo Lad, backed from $10 to $9.50, to a length win over Playwright ($7.50) with Just Look ($26) a length away third in the 1600m feature.
Largo Lad was previously owned by Jim Racovolis and prepared by John Ledger at Wangaratta.
Hayes and stable clients Peter Devitt, Les Gordon and Scott Perrin paid a seven-figure sum for him 12 months ago and the gelding has won three races for them including two of three at Flemington this campaign.
But Hayes says he is still immature and the best is still ahead of the leggy Encosta De Lago gelding.
"He's like a six foot seven 15-year-old and when he grows into himself he'll be pretty good," Hayes said.
"He came up the worst part of the track today, but it was probably telling in the end. He's a big dumbo who hasn't been in front so far from home for a long time.
"I think we'll go to Sydney and just enjoy the moment. You can get a wet Doncaster and you can get a fast-run Doncaster and I think both will suit him.
"And then we'll head to Queensland. We like to space his races."
Largo Lad is weighted to carry 51kg in the Doncaster (1600m) at Randwick on April 18.
The big gelding was backing up from running 19th to Scenic Blast after drawing the wrong side of the track in the Newmarket Hcp (1200m) at Flemington a week ago, but Hayes said he needed that run to fit him for Saturday's 1600m event.
Symons missed the Newmarket mount on Largo Lad and was replaced by West Australian jockey Jason Brown as he was knocked out in a race fall at Ballarat two days before.
"I was conscious of getting to the middle of the track but I knew they were all going to fan out on the turn and I was lucky enough to get a little way out and he dragged me up and did the rest," Symons said.
Tasmanian galloper Conquering was sent out $5 favourite but after tracking the leader Light Vision (last) he dropped out to finish 10th of the 13 runners.
"He's had enough," jockey Darren Gauci said of Conquering who was after his sixth straight win.
Melbourne Cup placegetter C'est La Guerre ($7) came from last to finish fifth in what will be his only appearance of the autumn, while Craig Williams was disappointed with Orange County ($7.50) who finished eighth.