The Lindsay Park team has taken a valuable lesson from War Machine’s scheduled first-up run this preparation: not to take anything for granted with their talented gelding. However, the Hayes brothers are expressing great excitement about what he can achieve in this Saturday’s CF Orr Stakes at Sandown.
This significant $1 million Group 1 race will represent the fourth start of a campaign that was initially set to begin in the Aurie’s Star Handicap on August 1. Unfortunately, he was scratched late after bursting through the barriers.
War Machine was also a withdrawal from the Group 2 The Damien Oliver (1400m) at Flemington on Derby Day, a decision prompted by drawing a wide barrier. JD Hayes noted that while the spring campaign has not unfolded according to the brothers’ plans, they are very pleased with the horse’s current condition.
“He’s just had an awful amount of bad luck – the amount of scratching fees he’s incurred due to bad tracks or bad barriers has been immense,” Hayes, who trains War Machine alongside his brothers Ben and Will, commented.
“The ownership group has been patient, but we’re just waiting for the right set up for him and hopefully we get that on Saturday. He’s raced himself back into form and he looks tremendous.”
War Machine’s most recent outing saw him win the Group 3 Moonga Stakes. This followed a 14th-place finish in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, marking his only two starts at the 1400m distance since his career-defining victory in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap in June last year.
The Harry Angel gelding has now won five of his seven starts at the 1400m trip. Although he performed poorly in his sole previous start at Sandown, it was only his second racetrack appearance back in August 2023, and Hayes anticipates he will appreciate the wide-open spaces of the Hillside circuit.
“Just getting him to the right distance has been the key,” Hayes explained.
“He was terrific first-up at Caulfield and had no luck in the Rupert Clarke (Stakes), so he hasn’t done too much wrong. I love Sandown and I think he’ll love it too.”
Mark Zahra, who partnered War Machine to his Moonga Stakes win, will again ride the gelding in the Orr Stakes. War Machine is currently available at $23 in the betting, with the market led by the three-time Group 1 winner Beiwacht at $3.10.
War Machine appears ready to make his mark in the CF Orr Stakes, and for those looking to get involved, consider the available betting markets at various online bookmakers.
