Lindsay Park chase back-to-back Flemington wins with Sneaky Sunrise

Sneaky Sunrise could enhance her spring credentials with another victory at Flemington on Saturday.

Sneaky Sunrise could enhance her spring credentials with another victory at Flemington.

Lindsay Park has the promising two-year-old, a $2.70 favourite with TAB to win the Ken Cox Handicap (1420m) on Saturday, as a potential VRC Oaks or Thousand Guineas filly.

Sneaky Sunrise, a daughter of boom stallion The Autumn Sun, already a Group 1 producer in Autumn Angel (Australian Oaks) and Vibrant Sun (SA Oaks), won comfortably last month.

Trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes considered a shot at the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) in Brisbane after the Two-Year-Old Open Handicap win but elected to stay at home.

“She’s on the early side for a The Autumn Sun and she’s got a lot more improvement to come,” Ben Hayes said.

“She had a little tick over jumpout, it’s been a month between runs, she’s staying at 1400m and this will be a nice run to go for the final in two weeks’ time.”

“We’re really looking forward to getting her out to that trip (1600m), we elected not to go to Queensland and keep her here.

“It was tempting but we just felt you could take her through the grades nicely here less travel and she’s a very happy, healthy horse.

“With the way that horse (Broadsiding) won (the JJ Atkins) I’m glad we didn’t go!”

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Sneaky Sunrise kicks of Andrew Ramsden Race Day with an impressive victory in the Sir Eugene Gorman Handicap.

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The Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on July 6 is another opportunity to boost Sneaky Sunrise’s profile and add valuable black type to her pedigree page.

Sneaky Sunrise finished seventh in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) two starts back at only her second race day appearance.

“We think potentially she’s going to be a really nice stayer and she’s got a turn of foot, we’re hopeful she’ll be either a Thousand Guineas or Oaks type in the spring,” Hayes said.

“We got to make a decision which way we go for now … they’re decisions we have to make and she’ll tell us with how she runs.”

Sneaky Sunrise wins at Flemington.

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A tilt at the Thousand Guineas in mid-November would afford Sneaky Sunrise a decent spell whereas her winter break would be shortened by a week or two to target the VRC Oaks.

Hayes said Jenni’s Meadow, a $13 chance in the Ken Cox Handicap, could improve third-up with blinkers on.

“She got a little bit lost and outsprinted (last start),” Hayes said.

“She’s quite a laid back customer at home, leaves it to race day, and I think the blinkers, something we don’t normally do going up to 1400m, for her I don’t think it will be a problem.

“She’s got a lot of ability.”

Lindsay Park has nine other starters at Flemington on Saturday including Rise At Dawn, a last start.

Originally published as Lindsay Park chase back-to-back Flemington wins with Sneaky Sunrise