Lindsay Park is banking on the wet conditions at Sandown proving beneficial to former Hong Kong galloper Naboo Star.
The rising nine-year-old will be aiming for a third win from his past four starts when he runs in the ive > Handicap (1600m) on Monday.
Naboo Star won three of his 23 starts in Hong Kong before returning to Australia to join the stable of Ben and J d Hayes.
After 10 months away from the racetrack, filled placings in three of his first four starts at Sandown and Caulfield, but it took to start number eight before scoring at Ballarat.
After finishing last at Moonee Valley on March 5, Naboo Star travelled to Morphettville where he scored over 1550m on March 25.
“He’s won two now this preparation and we had to place him over in Adelaide last time,” J D Hayes said.
“He was off the bit a long way out but chimed in which was good. This is another step up and hopefully he’s able to bring that form.”
Monday’s meeting is again on the Lakeside track, the same as the Easter Saturday meeting that was downgraded to a Heavy 8 during the day.
On Sunday, the track was rated in the Slow range.
“I think it will help his old bones. He did perform well on the heavy tracks early on,” Hayes said.
Lindsay Park will also saddle Azaly in the Ladbrokes Communities Handicap (2100m).
Hayes expects the distance will suit Azaly after last start second over 1600m at Albury on March 23.
A son of Dundeel, Hayes said Azaly spent time on the sidelines with an illness and started only twice in 2022 before resuming earlier this year.
Azaly had shown staying promise as a three-year-old, running second in the Geelong Classic (2200m) in 2020 and contesting the South Australian Derby at Morphettville.
‘He got sick, so we had to get his head down in the paddock and gave him a very slow build-up, but after we got him to the races, he got sick again,” Hayes said.
“Hopefully he’s got through all that and he’s come to hand beautifully this time in.”
