Two of Lindsay Park’s high-profile imports are set to make their autumn returns in stakes race at Caulfield.
Cape Of Good Hope returns to Caulfield chasing a second Group One win in Saturday’s Futurity Stakes (1400m) with stayer Constantinople contesting the Group Two Peter Young Stakes (1800m).
Both are former members of Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien’s team and made their presence felt during last year’s spring carnival in Melbourne.
After a two-week stay in quarantine at Werribee, Cape Of Good Hope left the compound on the morning of October 12 to win the Caulfield Stakes (2000m) that afternoon before failing in the Cox Plate at The Valley and the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington.
Lindsay Park hopes he can secure a place in the $5 million All-Star Mile at Caulfield on March 14 with the Futurity winner guaranteed a start.
Co-trainer Ben Hayes said Cape Of Good Hope posted a strong gallop on the course proper at Flemington on Tuesday which followed a “deceptive” jump-out on February 14.
“It looked bad but he was up against the Coolmore winner and sprinters in the trial and they were just too sharp for him,” Hayes said.
“He’s a lazy worker at home but he had a gallop on the course proper and I was thrilled with the way he went.
“He’s one of those horses that could surprise, like he surprised us at Caulfield at his first run in Australia.”
Stablemate Constantinople is being aimed at the Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 7.
Constantinople has not raced since finishing 13th in the Melbourne Cup after an unlucky fourth in the Caulfield Cup at his Australian debut.
“He’s ticking along really nicely. He looks fantastic and his trials have been good,” Hayes said.
“He’ll probably find the 1800 metres a little on the short side being first-up, but he’ll take a lot of improvement out of the race.
“He’ll have a light autumn, then we’ll tip him out and head towards the Melbourne Cup again.”