Hayes brothers aiming to become third generation to win Australian Guineas

It would be a big thrill for Ben, JD and Will Hayes if the brothers can join their father and grandfather on the Australian Guineas honour board.

An Australian Guineas story stretching back to the second edition of the Group 1 event could roll into a third chapter at Flemington on Saturday.

Colin Hayes won the second edition of the three-year-old classic with Military Plume back in 1987 before adding another two wins 1989 and 1990 with King’s High and Zabeel respectively.

David Hayes won the Australian Guineas with the mighty filly Miss Finland in 2007, when the race was run at Caulfield for a year while the Flemington track was being rebuilt.

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Now Ben, JD and Will Hayes will have their first crack at going where their father and grandfather walked when they saddle Apulia in Saturday’s $1m event.

“If we could win it as a third generation Hayes, it would be a big thrill,” Ben Hayes said.

“It’s one of the races you always want to win over the autumn carnival and we’ve been close.”

Apulia resumes in the Australian Guineas on Saturday. Picture: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Lindsay Park had several Australian Guineas placegetters when David and Ben Hayes trained in partnership with Tom Dabernig but Apulia will be the brothers’ first runner in the race as a training trio.

Apulia went from a Cranbourne maiden win to a narrow defeat in the Victoria Derby in the space of six runs in the spring.

He will have another crack at his Victoria Derby nemesis Riff Rocket in the Australian Guineas.

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Apulia will go into the Australian Guineas at a fitness disadvantage after Riff Rocket easily won the Group 3 CS Hayes when resuming on February 17.

“Coming up against Riff Rocket again is always good,” Hayes said.

“It was good to see the form from the spring come out and win impressively.

“He (Riff Rocket) has a run under his belt and he’s going to be very hard to beat if replicates his first-up run.”

The Colin Hayes-trained Zabeel winning the Australian Guineas in 1990.

Hayes said the stable decided to give Apulia another jumpout instead of running over the unsuitable 1400m trip in the CS Hayes Stakes.

He added the 1600m of the Australian Guineas could be too short for the son of Fiorente despite winning his maiden over 1500m last August.

Drawing barrier 15 could also be a reason TAB rated Apulia as a $34 chance in Australian Guineas betting.

“The barrier is a bit of a tricky one for us but I think it forces our hand to ride a patient race and do his best work through the line,” Hayes said.

“I do think the mile is on the short side but when you see a horse like Riff Rocket come out and win first-up over 1400(m), it gives you a bit of hope.

“His form is very strong from the spring and we’re looking forward to seeing how he goes.

“Hopefully we’ve got the right horse.”

Originally published as Hayes brothers aiming to become third generation to win Australian Guineas