The combination of track conditions and race distance is predicted to be highly favourable for Ndola as he contests The Meteorite.
The Lindsay Park training trio is backing one of their horses, currently performing exceptionally well, to secure a significant million-dollar race at Cranbourne on Saturday.
Next weekend, metropolitan racing will relocate, with Cranbourne taking centre stage for the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) and the first of two slot races coordinated by Southside Racing.
The Meteorite, a sprint over 1200 metres, is the initial slot race, with The Supernova (1400m) to follow at Pakenham on December 13.
Ndola is in such good form, having won the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 31 and the Apache Cat Classic (1200m) at Cranbourne three weeks prior, that Ben Hayes is excited about his chances of winning.
“We’re really happy with him and we have got him on our slot,” Hayes conveyed.
“He’s arguably in career best form and the track and trip is no issue especially two starts back.”
Ndola has shown consistent form, achieving a Racing and Sports rating of 114 in each of his last three races.
The stable views Ndola as more of a sprinter, and the 1200m distance of The Meteorite is considered more suitable than the 1400m at Pakenham later on.
“1400 sorts him out, unfortunately,” Hayes added.
“We thought early days that he would get out in trip but he is doing a good job over 1200-metres considering he has got bad wind. He’s a good sprinter.”
The Hayes stable is also fielding Arkansaw Kid in The Meteorite, seeking an improved result after finishing second in the 2025 edition to Jigsaw, who had a successful run twelve months ago.
“He’s won over $2 million and is a multiple group two winner and group one placed and he ran inro a horse who went on to string a number of wins in-a-row.
“Jigsaw won’t be there and I thought his last run was good.”
As the metropolitan feature races conclude and other tracks take the spotlight, Ben expressed his satisfaction with how their spring carnival has performed.
“We were a bit slow at the start and didn’t start as well as we wanted but we were happy with it,” he stated.
“Four (wins) is nearly the best we’ve done as a partnership and a couple of good winners in Sydney through Cup week, so we are happy but would like to improve.”
Check out the latest betting markets for the race at The Meteorite.