Hayes brothers opt for Flemington debut with filly Ethereum Girl

Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes decided to head to Flemington with debut filly Ethereum Girl instead of a race at Seymour earlier in the week.

JD, Ben and Will Hayes will chase another two-year-old Flemington winner with Ethereum Girl. Picture: Michael Klein

Playing the percentages could lead to another Lindsay Park two-year-old winner in Saturday’s VRC Punters’ Club Sprint (1000m) at Flemington.

The Hayes family has prepared two-year-old winners at Flemington for three generations with Ethereum Girl a chance to join those ranks on debut.

Trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes accepted to run Ethereum Girl at Seymour on Thursday but decided to head to Flemington after the filly drew poorly.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

“It’s a low-percentage play running from barrier 11 when you have barrier one down the straight and the Flemington race is worth a lot more prizemoney against her own sex,” JD Hayes said.

Ethereum Girl is a $5 chance to start her career with a win.

The daughter of former Japanese star Maurice has won her three jumpouts leading up to her debut, inspiring stable confidence in the youngster.

Hayes said the Flemington straight track could test Ethereum Girl on debut, but she had the ability to handle the unknown quantity.

“She’s never seen the straight before but she’s showing us above average ability,” Hayes said.

“She did trial very well, albeit on a synthetic track, but she was against older horses and there has already been a winner out of that trial.

“I think she’s going to run well but it’s just a matter of whether she handles the straight.”

• Flemington Early Oil for Saturday: $11 value bet

The Blue Diamond series starts with the Blue Diamond Previews at Sandown on Saturday week.

Hayes said Ethereum Girl might have stepped up as a racing proposition at the right time.

“She’s just come to hand at this time of the year,” Hayes said.

“It might be a bit more of a coincidence, but we do have a nice opinion of her.

“It could be very nice timing.”

Hayes said the stable would scratch Saxon King from his Flemington assignment, preferring to run the import in Adelaide on Saturday.

Saxon King disappointed the camp on Ballarat Cup day but Hayes said the five-year-old showed he could improve in a recent Flemington jumpout.

“There was a little bit of head scratching from his first-up run,” Hayes said.

“Then we went back to the jumpouts and gave him a tick over jumpout and he went super so we’re just going to put a line through that and see how we go in Adelaide.”

Originally published as Hayes brothers opt for Flemington debut with filly Ethereum Girl