THE Australia Day weekend shapes as a pivotal one for the Hayes brothers as they look to find their next flagship galloper, a position which has been filled by Mr Brightside for several years.
Mr Brightside will miss the autumn due to an injury, but the Lindsay Park team is eyeing off a return in the spring for the rising nine-year-old gelding.
At the Pakenham meeting on Friday night and Caulfield tomorrow, they will have two runners who they are looking to fill the breach for them at G1 level.
On Friday night at Pakenham, they will be represented by War Machine, who is $1.50 with Unibet to win the Australia Stakes.
War Machine joined Lindsay Park early last year and he put together four straight wins, including the G1 Stradbroke Handicap.
He trialled impressively in a jump-out at Werribee last Friday and is a likely Newmarket Handicap contender.
At Caulfield on Saturday, they will also be represented by Touchdown in the final race who is looking to make it four straight wins in the 1600m and is $2.30 favourite with Unibet
During the week, co-trainer JD Hayes labelled Touchdown as the horse he is most excited about in the Lindsay Park stable.
They will also be represented by speed machine Beast Mode ($3.30 fav with Unibet_ and backmarker Oak Hill ($3.80) in the W.J Adams Stakes (1000m), and both those sprinters have the potential to win at G1 level.
They also have Maribyrnong Trial Stakes winner Eurocanto ($3.70 Unibet) resuming in the Blue Diamond Preview for the colts and geldings.
In the Blue Diamond Preview for fillies, they have two starters: Gin Twist ($19), who finished third at her debut at Pakenham and first starter La Gitana ($13).
In that race, the Ciaron Maher-trained debutante Angels Fury, who has been jumping out impressively, has been the subject of great support and is now $2.70 favourite with Unibet.
One astute rival trainer has branded Angels Fury “a machine” and a potential Golden Slipper winner.
