From the office of:-

THOROUGHBRED RACING S.A. LIMITED
Racing Services Officer - Jason Hickson
Telephone: 61 8 8179 9812 Facsimile: 61 8 8350 0080

Hayes returns for Craiglee
September 5 Jason Hickson

South Australian horses are making an attack on the early spring races with more than a dozen contenders at Flemington on Saturday.
And more than half of the raiders are prepared by the two "Macs", Leon Macdonald and Tony McEvoy.

Macdonald, with 43 boxes at Morphettville and a further 15 at Caulfield, said his stable was overflowing with horses in what could be his best spring.

He has four chances in Saturday’s meeting, beginning with Great Glen in the Listed Drumstick Royale Plate. The promising type is having his first start beyond 1400m but Macdonald has no doubt he will relish the journey.

Last start, Great Glen finished second to Delago Brom over 1200m in the Listed Vain Stakes at Caulfield.

"He overraced slightly last start and I think that was the difference between winning and losing," Macdonald said. "I’ve taken the blinkers off for this run and I think from barrier one he’ll get a lovely run in the box seat. He’ll just bowl along and should enjoy the trip."

Great Glen, a winner of the Group 2 Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville earlier in the year, will have his next start over 1400m in the Group 3 Guineas Prelude at Caulfield on September 22 before the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October. From there, he could even run in the AAMI Vase and the VRC Derby.

"He’s a high-class horse and I think the reason good horses get ground is because they do it easily," Macdonald said. "It all depends on his lead-up form to those races but I think he’ll measure up."

Next up for Macdonald is burly grey Eagle Rhythm in the Listed TEAC Stakes (1400m), who returned to racing with a solid three-length seventh to El Nino first-up over 1200m at Caulfield. He has an excellent record at the track and is on track for a Caulfield Cup campaign.

"He ran a terrific race first-up and I’m happy with the way he’s come through the run," Macdonald said. "He might find this a bit short, though. The next logical step is the Underwood Stakes (1800m) a fortnight later but he’s headed toward the Caulfield Cup - as long as he measures up. He’s been a slow maturing type and he might just be ready to show his best. He’s bred along very similar lines to Melbourne Cup winner Ethereal (Rhythm - Sir Tristram mare)."

Later in the day, Macdonald will saddle up consistent mare Li Lo Lill in the Listed Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m). She, too, is being targeted at the Caulfield Cup. First-up, the mare finished well back behind Pernod in the Dunlop Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

"She was just run off her legs first-up and was never able to get into the race," Macdonald said. "Obviously she’ll get better with more ground and at least we know she can stay. I’m aiming her at the Caulfield Cup but she’s another one who has to measure up first. There are a number of mares’ races over the carnival plus races like the Ballarat, Geelong and Bendigo Cups. There’s plenty around for her."

Stablemate Little Miss Quick is an emergency for the same race, and has earned a trip to the Melbourne stables courtesy of her excellent Adelaide form.

"She’s very honest and will eventually make a nice staying type," Macdonald said. "I’ve just brought her over to see what we can do with her in the spring but I think she’ll be a better horse in the autumn."

Honest mare Shaye Spice is ticking along nicely, according to Macdonald, in preparation for next weekend’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes, and the stable will receive another boost in the few weeks with multiple Group 1 winner Umrum and the promising Hydrometer joining the Melbourne team.
Those two horses had an exhibition gallop between races at Morphettville on Wednesday in a solid half-mile workout.

Umrum, now eight, looked magnificent and will begin his campaign in the Group 3 Blackwell Funeral Spring Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday week.

Tony McEvoy has six runners entered for the Flemington meeting, including Elegant Fashion in the Group 2 Craiglee Stakes, where he will go head-to-head with his boss, David Hayes, who is having his first Australian runner in seven years - Helene Vitality.

McEvoy’s other runners are Presumed Innocent and the impeccably bred Dubai Ice in the first event, last-start winner El Nino in the TEAC Stakes, and Court Of Jewels and Soldado in the final event.

Other South Australian runners are Olongopo for Bill Peake, Squillani for Philip Stokes and Savage Attack for Mark Minervini - all three last-start winners.

A number of horses who won feature races over the Adelaide Cup carnival are also engaged - Australasian Oaks winner Tully Thunder, Veuve Clicquot Stakes winner Silver Baron, SA Derby winner Pantani, Rain Lover Plate winner Yammer, The Jansz winner Rohatyn, Wylie Handicap winner Innovation Girl and Carlton Draught Stakes winner Firetaine all make up what looks an exciting days racing.