Western Front anything but Quiet
A lengthy campaign for talented stayer The Western Front (NZ) (War Decree) is set to continue, with the Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and JD Hayes eyeing further opportunities for the in-form galloper through the winter.
The five-year-old resumed from a Pakenham jumpout in December and has enjoyed a fruitful preparation, recording four victories from eight starts and banking A$262,350 in prizemoney.
His latest success came in the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) on May 31, where he produced a determined performance to hold off Zibulon and Tajanis, securing the first stakes win of his career.
While suitable staying races over two miles are scarce in the coming weeks, the Hayes team is keen to press on with the gelding. The Western Front is expected to be among the nominations for Saturday's 2500m quality handicap at Flemington.
"Ideally we'd like to stay at 3200m but it was the next option here in Victoria and he's shown that he's trained on beautifully and we can't fault him," JD Hayes told Racenet.
"He was quite good in the Andrew Ramsden (2800m) too at set weights, so we're very happy with him, he's rock hard fit and he stays, so I think he'll be hard to beat again.
"We'll go run-by-run, we'll see how we go, but the plan is to not stop. Hopefully he'll be a bit of an ATM, he'll win more money in work than out of work."
Hayes said the stable would continue to assess the gelding's program as the preparation unfolds, but there is no immediate intention to send him for a break.
Elsewhere, star galloper Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) continues to progress well after undergoing minor surgery to remove a small chip from his left fore fetlock.
The multiple Group One winner is building towards a return in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
"He's in work, under saddle and moving beautifully," Hayes said.
"He's been doing a lot of pre-work before the saddle went on so he's right where we want him. Treadmill, water walker, as much work as you can do with no rider on his back."
The stable also enjoyed success at Sandown Hillside on Saturday, where Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) relished the rain-affected track to take out the Quayclean Handicap (1800m), with the ten-time winner now having amassed A$1,730,612 in prizemoney.
