Lindsay Park has pair Joyful Fortune and Acromantula primed to strike fresh in Flemington sprint
Ben Hayes is confident fresh pair Joyful Fortune and Acromantula can cause a boilover in the ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap at Flemington.
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Fresh will be best for two Lindsay Park-trained speedsters in the Listed ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap at Flemington.
Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes will tackle the $175,000 contest with seasoned sprinters Joyful Fortune and Acromantula but both will be on the fresh side for the 1000m scamper.
Joyful Fortune has not raced since he was outclassed in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes while Acromantula resumes from a longer break with his last run being at Ballarat in December last year.
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Ben Hayes said Joyful Fortune, who spent more than two years away from racing before resuming with a third in the Group 3 Standish Handicap in January, had benefited from another short break.
“We tried running him in the Lightning in which he found them a little bit too good,” he said.
“But he’s right back in class and was very good first-up for us down the straight.
“I think he’s found a race where he should run really well and he’s had a couple of nice trials in between.
“He’s nice and sound and moving well so hopefully he’s right back on track to run well.”
• Brad Waters’ race-by-race tips, analysis for Flemington on Saturday
Acromantula won on debut for the Hayes camp over 1000m at The Valley on Cox Plate day last year before struggling in two subsequent runs.
However, the former Perth sprinter has won two jumpouts at Pakenham in preparation for his first-up assignment.
“He’s a horse that a lot of things have to go right with him,” Hayes said.
“He’s a good fresh horse from our experience and was super at The Valley when he flew the gates and got into a nice rhythm,
“He’s done everything right and I think he’ll sprint well fresh.”
• Group 1 Australian Cup: Runner-by-runner guide
Both sprinters are noted on-pace runners, which had the potential to cause both geldings’ undoing in the race.
However, Hayes said the duo had drawn well apart, which should limit the likelihood of eyeballing each other in front, presenting the perfect scenario for the backmarkers.
“Luckily they have drawn opposite ends of the field but you never know what happens down the straight,” Hayes said.
“They both like to bowl and hopefully they won’t take each other on.”
Ethan Brown will ride Joyful Fortune, who has won twice down the Flemington straight course, while Luke Currie will be aboard Acromantula.
Originally published as Lindsay Park has pair Joyful Fortune and Acromantula primed to strike fresh in Flemington sprint
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