Lindsay Park has a number of spring options for surprise packet Gentleman Roy who kicks off his campaign at Caulfield.
The Ben and JD Hayes-trained galloper makes his return in the ive> Handicap (1400m) on Saturday after a campaign over summer and autumn saw Gentleman Roy collect five wins and two second placings from seven starts.
JD Hayes said Gentleman Roy, who will be joined by stablemate Nicolino Vito in Saturday’s race, was in for a long campaign that could see him in Perth at the end of the year.
No definitive program has been set for Gentleman Roy who is expected to improve with racing through the campaign as Hayes said the gelding was still holding some condition.
“He pieced together a very good preparation last time in,” Hayes said.
“He had seven starts for five wins and two seconds. He’s a competitor but where his body condition is at now, we have a lot of improvement to go.
“I think he’ll be in for a long campaign, so whatever he does on Saturday he will be better for it.
“The Toorak Handicap is not pencilled in but is an option, but there are plenty of good races for him throughout the spring and he could bob up in a good race during Melbourne Cup week and then maybe even head on to Perth.
“He’s at that age where he can be in work for a long time.
“He’ll be ready to peak fourth or fifth up the way he is at the moment.”
While Gentleman Roy is about to embark on his campaign, Hayes said Nicolino Vito was more advanced at this stage having already had two starts for the preparation.
A first-up winner at Flemington, Nicolino Vito was a last start fourth to Turn On The Charm, an opponent on Saturday, over 1410m at Flemington on August 6.
“Nicolino has two runs under the belt this campaign and is a lot more forward than Gentleman Roy and is third-up and ready to run a very good race,” Hayes said.
