Promising stayer Reprisal has peaked and is set to give trainer David Hayes his first South Australian Derby victory.Lindsay Park hasn't been successful in the 2500m Classic since Hayes' father Colin chalked up his fourth win with Mapperley Heights 25 years ago while his other winners for the training empire were Clear Prince (1970), Royal Chat (1960) and Pandie Star (1954).Last year David Hayes prepared Zagreb who was second to star filly Zarita and he has high hopes Reprisal can go one better
Promising stayer Reprisal has peaked and is set to give trainer David Hayes his first South Australian Derby victory.
Lindsay Park hasn't been successful in the 2500m Classic since Hayes' father Colin chalked up his fourth win with Mapperley Heights 25 years ago while his other winners for the training empire were Clear Prince (1970), Royal Chat (1960) and Pandie Star (1954).
Last year David Hayes prepared Zagreb who was second to star filly Zarita and he has high hopes Reprisal can go one better at Morphettville on Saturday.
"He is a horse who has continued to improve and should be at his peak for this race," Hayes said.
Three starts ago Reprisal finished second to Betwixt in the Group Three Tasmanian Derby (2200m) on January 31, two weeks after winning the Listed Hobart Guineas (2100m) by 7-1/2 lengths.
"He was dominant in the Guineas in Tasmania and ran a very good race in the Derby," Hayes said.
"I think he might be a nice stayer for the next couple of seasons."
Reprisal has raced 10 times and once he was stretched out over ground started to bloom.
His other wins were also during the summer at Kyneton and Geelong over 2025m and 2240m respectively.
After his Tasmanian campaign, Hayes gave Reprisal a freshen up for a crack at the SA Derby with two conditioning runs last month bringing him to his top.
He signalled he was ready for the Classic with a last-start second to Rebel Raider in the Listed Chairman's TAB Stakes (2000m) at Morphettville.
"He went a little bit too hard in that race but he's benefited from that run," Hayes said.
Paul Gatt has ridden Reprisal at his last two runs and will try to win the SA Derby for the second time.
In 2005 he scored on $51 outsider Tails Of Triomphe but Reprisal is much more fancied at $11 with TAB Sportsbet.
Rebel Raider is $2.90 favourite to become the first Victoria Derby winner to win the SA Derby since the race was transferred from the spring to the autumn in 1984.
Last-start Hamilton Cup winner Larry's Never Late is second pick at $4.20 ahead of Fitoussi at $7.