David Hayes is convinced Our Aqaleem is a genuine Group One weight-for-age candidate following his gallant first-up win in Australia after a lengthy injury layoff.Placed third in the 2007 English Derby (2400m) won by Authorized, the lightly-raced stallion had his first start for 2-1/2 years when he lined up at Flemington on Saturday.Our Aqaleem cracked his pelvis twice during that time, but owner Sheikh Hamdan thought enough of him to send him to Australia where he has had success with the likes
David Hayes is convinced Our Aqaleem is a genuine Group One weight-for-age candidate following his gallant first-up win in Australia after a lengthy injury layoff.
Placed third in the 2007 English Derby (2400m) won by Authorized, the lightly-raced stallion had his first start for 2-1/2 years when he lined up at Flemington on Saturday.
Our Aqaleem cracked his pelvis twice during that time, but owner Sheikh Hamdan thought enough of him to send him to Australia where he has had success with the likes of At Talaq, Jeune, Almaarad and Tawqeet.
"He's been here since October. I've basically had him in training doing a very gradual program with a lot of work on the treadmill," Hayes said.
"We thought he could run a very good race but I kept telling myself 2-1/2 years, a mile (1600m) and 59kg, but that's class".
"We've had horses with similar form over the years and they showed their class in Craiglees and this fellow stepped out in a welter so with hindsight.....
"But they hadn't had 2-1/2 years off either. It was a huge effort."
Hayes said Our Aqaleem's three-year-old form was "as good as any horse Sheikh Hamdan has sent to me" and he would now aim him at the Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 6 and the BMW (2400m) at Rosehill a month later.
"The only query over him was his injury but there was never any sign of it whatsoever.
"I was hoping he'd measure up as a Tancred (now BMW) horse and now I'm sure he will.
"I'll probably keep him fresh and run him next in the Australian Cup."
Ridden by top heavyweight jockey Steven Arnold in the Henry Bucks Best Dressed Hcp (1600m), Our Aqaleem was specked in betting from $26 to $21 and got up by a nose from Playwright ($8.50) with True Tales ($4 fav) a head away third.
"He stuck his head out. He did look like those Japanese stayers (Delta Blues and Pop Rock) at the end of the two miles (3200m)," Hayes said.
"He's been sent out for the Melbourne Cup and he'll have a light autumn and that's what he will be set for."
Aqaleem, who won the 2007 Group Three Derby Trial Stakes (2309m) at Lingfield, has won two of his six starts and has yet to miss a place.