Lindsay Park’s Oak Hill faces a major test when he lines up in Saturday’s Group 1 Moir Stakes, but his trainers are confident lessons learned from his last start will bring a sharper performance.
The sprinter impressed first-up when scoring over the 1000m at Moonee Valley before finishing fifth as favourite in the Listed Carlyon Stakes. Ben Hayes said the team has slightly altered his preparation for the Moir, aiming to have him fitter and less fresh for this tougher assignment.
“We trusted him into the race, keeping him fresh, and he raced fresh,” Hayes said. “This time we’ve changed our training into this race. He’s been working well and he’s much more relaxed. With that last run under his belt, I think you’ll see a totally different horse.”
Blake Shinn takes over from Mark Zahra, and Hayes was unfazed by Oak Hill drawing gate 11 in the 14-horse field. “I think the wide draw is good for him. There’s plenty of speed in the race and hopefully he can slot into the three-wide line with cover,” he said. “If he gets his momentum right, he’ll be in the finish.”
Punters can follow Oak Hill’s Group 1 challenge in the Moir Stakes by checking odds at Australia’s leading betting sites.