Lindsay Park aiming to break 26-year Magic Millions 2YO Classic drought with Jenni’s Meadow

Business will be the order of the day when Lindsay Park trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes head to the Gold Coast to run Jenni’s Meadow in the $3m Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Saturday.

Jenni's Meadow will have a crack at Australia’s best two-year-olds in training in Saturday’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.

The Hayes brothers aren’t heading to the Gold Coast for a holiday.

There’s the task of restocking the stable at the Magic Millions yearling sale but there’s also another big job for Ben, JD and Will Hayes next Saturday.

The task of winning the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic awaits the trio.

The Lindsay Park team sent Jenni’s Meadow to the Gold Coast to prepare for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic after she proved too strong on debut at The Valley last month.

Will Hayes said Jenni’s Meadow needed to win at The Valley to convince the camp she was up to taking north for Queensland’s richest two-year-old race.

“We wouldn’t be taking her up there if we didn’t think she was a chance,” he said.

“We had plans in place to go there if she were to win. Then the three of us and (owner) Tony Ottobre decided to pull the trigger on it and go there.

“She seems to be pretty versatile and the right type of horse to take up there”

Hayes said Jenni’s Meadow has settled in well at Mel Eggleston’s stable across the road from the Gold Coast racecourse.

A gallop on Saturday morning left one final hitout for Jenni’s Meadow ahead of the Brutal filly’s tough test.

Jenni's Meadow makes it a debut to remember with victory in the first at The Valley 💥@[e-mail]/JnFDo5OwBB

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 30, 2023

“She galloped on Saturday morning and did a bit of maintenance work. She went well,” Hayes said.

“She’ll do her final piece of work on Tuesday.”

Jenni’s Meadow will attempt to break a 26-year drought for Lindsay Park in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

The late Peter Hayes won the rich event for Lindsay Park with Catnipped in 1998 while David Hayes prepared multiple placegetters in the showpiece race.

Hayes prepared Mahaasin, who ran second in the second running of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in 1990 before going down narrowly with St Covet in 1994 and finishing third with Madeenaty in 2017.

Will Hayes said Tuesday’s barrier draw would be the key to deciding the riding instructions for Declan Bates in the occasionally rough-house contest.

“Hopefully she’ll draw a good gate and make a game plan from there,” Will Hayes said.

TAB has Jenni’s Meadow at $26 in Magic Millions 2YO Classic betting.

Storm Boy is the $2.50 favourite to give Gai Waterhouse a fifth win in the race.

Originally published as Lindsay Park aiming to break 26-year Magic Millions 2YO Classic drought with Jenni’s Meadow