The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will, and J D Hayes are hopeful that their two sprinters, Joyful Fortune and Acromantula, won’t interfere with each other in a Stakes race at Flemington.
The duo will compete in the Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) on Saturday, with each drawing opposite sides of the track in the dash up the Flemington straight.
Joyful Fortune has gate two and Acromantula has barrier 10.
“Fortunately, they’ve drawn on opposite sides, as both like to bowl, and hopefully, they won’t clash and can finish one-two,” said Ben Hayes.
Joyful Fortune will be making his third start for Lindsay Park.
The eight-year-old’s career has been hampered by injuries, limiting him to just 12 starts.
After starting his career in Hong Kong and winning twice in 2020 and 2021, Joyful Fortune returned to Australia, where Mark Newnham trained him for two starts at Flemington in 2022.
Following Newnham’s move to Hong Kong, Joyful Fortune was placed under the care of Ciaron Maher before being transferred to Lindsay Park last year.
Hayes explained that a lot of work had been done to get Joyful Fortune back into racing, with the sprinter finishing third in the Group 3 Standish Handicap and then coming last in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes.
“We tried running him in the Lightning, but he found them too good, and now he’s back in class,” Hayes said.
“There’s a lot of management involved with him. He had to be cleared to race here in Victoria, which isn’t always easy.
“He’s been training at Pakenham, where the facilities are excellent. They have great flat tracks and good grass access, including that excellent back grass area.
“He performed very well for us down the straight, and I think he’s found a race where he should run really well after a great trial where he worked really well.
“He’s sound and moving well.”
Acromantula, a former Perth sprinter, will make his second start for Lindsay Park and his first race down the Flemington straight.
Like his stablemate, Acromantula is being trained at Pakenham.
“He’s a horse that needs everything to fall into place for him,” Hayes said.
“He’s a very good fresh horse. He was excellent at The Valley, flying out of the gates and getting into a good rhythm.
“He’s trialled well, and I believe he’ll sprint well fresh.”
