David Hayes Back for Craiglee

Tuesday, 03 September 2002 00:00

International trainer David Hayes is looking forward to Saturday’s Group 2 Craiglee Stakes (1600m) at Flemington with his first Australian runner in more than seven years.

And it will bring back many memories for the South Australian, as the race provided his first Group success with the now all-conquering sire Zabeel, who happens to be the sire of his runner, Helene Vitality.

Helene Vitality raced in New Zealand as Hades, winning the NZ Derby, and placed in the Australian Guineas.

"The time has really flown but it must have been 12 year ago," Hayes said from Hong Kong. "Zabeel helped get me started so it will be good to return for that meeting. I’m really looking forward to it."

Hayes will use the race as a starting point for the former New Zealand galloper, who has been under his care in Hong Kong for the last couple of seasons.

But Hayes isn’t expecting too much, happy just to see him run a solid race as he prepares for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

"He’s had an exhibition gallop and a trial but I think he’ll find the 1600m too short," Hayes said. "I’d just like to see him running on. He has settled into the Flemington stables well and he’s been given a good grounding. He’s eating much more in Australia as well."

Another South Australian enjoying success in Hong Kong, top jockey Dwayne Dunn, is likely to ride Helene Vitality in his Caulfield Cup start and, then perhaps the Melbourne Cup. Dunn, who finished sixth in the Hong Kong jockeys premiership last season, has ridden the gelding a number of times for a couple of placings – including a last-start second in the Group 1 Charter Cup (2400m) in mid May.

"Dwayne has been a bit unlucky on him," Hayes said. "He’s a premier horse and, in Hong Kong, you have to run the horses when the races come up. But unfortunately he’s struck a number of wet tracks and he doesn’t really like the going. Dwayne’s done nothing wrong on him and I’d like him to be in the saddle for the Caulfield Cup."

Helene Vitality has 54.5kg in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

Media Release - Jason Hickson (TRSA)