Alzora Gives Hayes A Spring Carnival Boost
- Saturday, 20 October 2012 03:31
AlzoraWinning major spring races used to be fairly routine for trainer David Hayes.
But the slower pace recently adopted by Melbourne's seven-time premier trainer could be starting to pick up thanks to the successes of such horses as Saturday's Ethereal Stakes winner Alzora.
A maiden after her first eight starts, Alzora ($20) produced her true form over the 2000m of the Caulfield race, racing her way into VRC Oaks calculations.
"She'd been very unlucky in a couple of maidens, she really just needed to get out to her correct distance," Hayes said.
The victory turned Alzora from a well-bred maiden into stakes-winning Redoute's Choice filly, and therefore a potentially valuable broodmare.
But Hayes is hoping to increase that value even more at Flemington next month.
Alzora"We're heading for the Oaks and we're very excited," he said.
Alzora is likely to be aimed at the Group Two Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Derby Day before the Oaks five days later.
"If she eats really well we'll go to the Wakeful, but if we feel she's fit we'll go straight to the Oaks."
Alzora found the front a long way from home and held on strongly to beat Summerbliss ($6) with Transonic ($9.50) third, a half length further back.
As promising as Alzora's performance was from an Oaks point of view, it was no better than that of the runner-up whose effort prompted her rider Craig Williams to immediately claim the ride in the Classic.
"That was a super run, I'll be there for the Oaks," he told trainer Mick Kent.
Having only her second start, Summerbliss showed tremendous staying potential and also provided Kent and owner Rick Jamieson with their chance for a Classic after their unbeaten Derby hope Philippi had to be sent for a spell.
Photos: Fiona Tomlin, Quentin Lang
