The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will & J D Hayes resisted the temptation of a trip to Brisbane with one of their two-year-olds which could pay a dividend at Flemington instead.
The brothers had considered a trip north with last start Flemington winner Sneaky Sunrise for the Group 1 J J Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm won in emphatic fashion by Blindsiding.
“It was tempting to take her to Queensland, but we thought we could take her through the grades here, less travel and with the way that horse won, I’m glad we didn’t go,” Ben Hayes said.
Instead, Sneaky Sunrise will be joined by Jenni’s Meadow to contest the Ken Cox Handicap (1420m) on Saturday.
Sneaky Sunrise scored over 1400m at Flemington on May 18 and is being aimed at the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on July 6.
“She had a tick over jump-out since her last win being it is a month between runs,” Hayes said.
“This will be a nice run for her to go to the final in two weeks’ time and we’re really looking forward to getting her out to that trip.
“We elected not to go to Queensland and keep her here as we think she will be a really nice stayer and importantly she has a turn of foot.
“We’re hopeful that she can be a Thousand Guineas or a VRC Oaks type in the spring, so we’ll have to make a decision which race she goes for.
“Those are decisions we’ll have to make after she runs in the final.”
Sneaky Sunrise will be joined in Saturday’s race by Jenni’s Meadow who the stable is looking forward to seeing step out over the 1400m.
Jenni’s Meadow will also be sporting blinkers for the first time.
A debut winner at Moonee Valley before heading to the Gold Coast and running eighth in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, Jenni’s Meadow was a last start fifth over 1200m at Flemington on June 8.
“She’s looking for the 1400 metres,” Hayes said.
“At her last start she got a little bit lost and outsprinted, so we’ve put the blinkers on as she’s quite a laidback customer at home and leaves it to race day.
“The blinkers, it’s not something we would normally do going up to 1400, but with her it should be no problem.”
