The Lindsay Park operation, now under the guidance of Ben, Will and JD Hayes, is hoping to leave Flemington on Derby Day with a trophy their famous stable has yet to secure.
When David Hayes took the reins from his father Colin 35 years ago, he produced a remarkable Derby Day haul — six winners across the card, including two at Group 1 level. Those achievements still echo through the stable today, even with David now training in Hong Kong.
This year, his sons will have runners in six of Saturday’s nine races, but the spotlight is firmly on Tycoon Star in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m), a race that can define a colt’s stallion future.
Since the Melbourne Cup carnival restructure in 2006, the Coolmore Stud Stakes has been the race every top three-year-old sprinter is set for. Lindsay Park is yet to win it, but Tycoon Star has been earmarked for this target since August.
As a two-year-old, Tycoon Star made his presence known winning the Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington on Cup Day before finishing third in the Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).
He returned as a three-year-old with a strong performance in the Vain Stakes before contesting the McNeil Stakes and two Flemington straight-track races over 1100m, finishing third and fifth.
Ben Hayes said they have remained patient and deliberate in the colt’s preparation.
“It has been the race that we’ve wanted to end up at,” Hayes said.
“From his past couple of starts, punters have probably gone from him being a chance to not being good enough.
“He had a trial last week. He went really well, and I think he will enjoy a little more give in the track.
“He’s a horse that could surprise. He’s good enough, we just need to make sure he does things right through the race and finishes off strong.”
Tycoon Star clashed with Mcgaw, My Gladiola, Tentyris and Legacy Bound most recently, finishing fifth, but Hayes says the month between runs is exactly what suits him.
The stable has also opted to switch from winkers to visors in an attempt to sharpen his focus late.
“We always wanted to go a month into the race with a trial, which is exactly what we’ve done,” Hayes said.
“I’ve seen a lot of horses win at big odds in big races down the straight and he’s a winner down the straight, so he can certainly surprise.”
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