THE Hayes brothers have a strong hand in the Victoria Handicap as they attempt to make it three wins in a row in the feature event at Caulfield on Easter Saturday.
They will be represented by the 2024 Victoria Handicap winner Here To Shock and Café Millenium, with the pair at the top of the weights in the Group 3 1400m event. They were also successful with Nicolini Vito last year.
They will also take a two-pronged attack into the other feature event at Caulfield, the Easter Cup, with another top weight in Bankers Choice and the promising Plymouth representing them.
JD Hayes, speaking on SEN’s Giddy Up With Gareth, said Here To Shock was ready to peak.
“He’s improving into each run and it was a good run last start. He’s since had a tick over trial,” Hayes said.
The Hayes brothers took Here To Shock to New Zealand to run in a Group 1 1400m at Te Rapa in January, where he finished fourth. He then finished second to Scheelite over 1400m at Flemington on March 7.
Here To Shock has a good Caulfield 1400m record with three wins, two seconds and a third from nine starts.
He will be ridden by his regular jockey, Dan Stackhouse, who also rode him to win the 2024 Easter Cup.
Hayes said there was likely to be good speed in the Victoria Handicap with horses such as Here To Shock in the race, which will suit their other runner Café Millenium.
“He’s drawn wid,e which suits him as he needs time to find his rhythm, which he should do with a fair bit of speed in the race.”
Here To Shock is $6 equal second favourite with Unibet and Café Millenium is $9.
Hayes said they were thrilled with Bankers Choice’s last start third in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes, rating it as his best effort since he joined their stable almost a year ago.
Bankers’ Choice will also be ridden by Stackhouse.
Plymouth can also boast Birdman form as he finished fourth behind him two starts ago in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes at Flemington before he finished second in the Albury Cup.
“He should go close. He was very good last start in a Cup race and it took one horse at $51 to get past him. He’s in good form,” Hayes said.
Plymouth, who will be ridden by Luke Currie, is the $6.50 second favourite with Unibet and Bankers Choice is $15.
