At Lindsay Park, co-trainer Ben Hayes praises blinkers for sparking Plymouth’s return to the winners’ enclosure at Caulfield.
The Ben, Will and J D Hayes-trained runner posted his breakthrough win since September’s Benalla Cup when capturing the Lamaro’s After The Last Handicap (2000m) over the weekend.
Race favourite Plymouth ($7.50) with Jamie Mott steering secured a three-quarter length verdict from Howlin’ Rain ($13), and Brayden Star ($51) half a length behind in third.
Ben Hayes shared that his Lindsay Park team had selected the opportune juncture to reinstate blinkers on Plymouth following a period with winkers.
After a disappointing 12th in the Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield last April, he filled third spot in a benchmark 1000 race under matching conditions to Saturday.
“We just felt last start at Flemington that he probably hit the front early and peaked on his run.” Hayes said.
“He had been relaxing so well all prep after we had been wanting him to relax, that we had put the blinkers on him.
“Back in trip, the blinkers went on today and it was a ten-out-of-ten ride from Jamie.
“He had been running really well, and it was well-deserved.”
To instill some positivity, Hayes planned for Plymouth to race handily en route to Saturday’s confidence-building victory.
The Lindsay Park trainers’ only pre-event apprehension was the Soft 7 surface for Plymouth.
“After today I think we’ll keep him to 2000 (metres) and with the blinkers on, he definitely got the couple of lengths that he needed,” Hayes said.
“He’s lightly exposed on wet tracks, and that was a question mark, the Soft 7. I thought he did a good job handling that, so it’s all very good going into winter.”
Hayes along with his brothers will ponder the path ahead.
A foray to Brisbane has yet to be discounted.
“I was thinking about that, but I’ll need to talk to my brothers, or we could stay here and win another one of these types of races,” Hayes said.
“But I know the owners don’t mind a trip.”
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