Faatinah could race at the Dubai World Cup meeting in March
Lindsay Park sprinter Faatinah begins a campaign at Caulfield that could eventually lead him to a race at the Dubai World Cup meeting.
Faatinah and stablemate Almoonqith have been nominated for support races on World Cup night but co-trainer David Hayes said the pair would need to be in top form to warrant the trip.
“They would have to be in unbelievable Group One form to warrant going,” Hayes said.
“We’ve got to see how they come back.”
Lindsay Park is considering the Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) at Meydan on March 25 for Faatinah while Almoonqith could contest either the Group One Sheema Classic (2400m) or the Group Two Dubai Gold Cup (3200m).
Faatinah won a Flemington jump-out on Friday morning and will resume in the WJ Adams Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Hayes said his immediate goal was the Group One Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield on February 25.
Faatinah ran fifth in The Goodwood at Morphettville in May and returned to win the Group Two Bobbie Lewis Stakes at Fleington first-up last spring.
“He’s a Group Two winner and he’d want to be in Group One-winning form to warrant going,” Hayes said.
“He’ll get his chance in the Oakleigh Plate and if he could win that then he might be a chance of going.”
Almoonqith will resume his autumn campaign in the Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on February 25 before heading to the Australian Cup (2000m) two weeks later.
“We’ll run him in the Australian Cup and then we’ll make a decision on whether to head to Dubai,” hayes said.
“He’d also have to be in top form to make the trip.”
Almoonqith finished sixth to Almandin in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) before running second to Beautiful Romance in the Sandown Classic (2400m) last spring.
