Ben Hayes has discovered over Madiyya’s career that opportunities don’t always present themselves frequently in each preparation.
Therefore, the narrow defeats she has suffered in her last two runs have been particularly difficult to absorb.
The daughter of Super Seth has been beaten in photo finishes at her past two starts, each time failing to gain clear running until approximately 250 metres from the line, which was about 50 metres too late.
Madiyya, a mare approaching her fifth birthday, has not had a campaign that has extended beyond four starts to this point. However, Hayes has seen sufficient progress this preparation to believe she can make a strong return in Saturday’s $130,000 Sportsbet Feed BM78 Handicap (1700m) at Caulfield.
“That’s been her problem as a horse, she’s never really handled her training,” Hayes commented.
“But this prep she’s actually held weight and doing really well.”
“She’s an older mare now and hopefully we can get the result, because when she gets it all together she’s got the ability.”
These two close losses, both at Flemington, followed a fourth-place finish on her first-up run, also at Flemington, where she was beaten just over 1-3/4 lengths by Capper Thirtynine.
Madiyya’s career of 10 starts has seen her finish no worse than fifth, with three wins, two second placings, and two thirds recorded.
She has drawn barrier 11 for Saturday’s 16-horse field, and will be ridden by Jamie Mott, who is a contender for the metro jockeys’ premiership.
Madiyya has a perfect record at Caulfield, having won her only two starts there. Saturday’s race will be the mare’s first start beyond 1600 metres, a distance Hayes believes she is ready for, racing in the Trelawney Stud silks.
“I think (benchmark) 78, over 1700 should be ideal for her and she’s building fourth-up,” said Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers Will and JD.
Madiyya, currently the $4.80 favourite, will be joined in Saturday’s race by stablemate Oriental Smoke. Oriental Smoke, a $51 chance, is lining up for his fourth run since returning from a stint in Hong Kong with Jackson Radley booked to ride.
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