The Lindsay Park team is relying on promising colt Ocean Knight (Ocean Park x The Iffraaj Dame) to deliver the stable a second-straight Danehill Stakes at Flemington.
Star filly Catchy won the Gr.2 Danehill a year ago and senior trainer David Hayes has high hopes for Ocean Knight who is being aimed at next month's Gr.1Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
Like Catchy last year, Ocean Knight will have Regan Bayliss aboard on Saturday and Hayes believes the colt will handle racing on the straight 1200m-course having impressed the trainer in a jump-out early last month.
"We're hoping he's a Guineas contender and I think he'll really sprint well up the straight because he trialled very well up the straight," Hayes said.
"We have always thought he was a Group-class horse and if he wins the Danehill or runs well I'm sure he's going to be measuring up in a Guineas."
Ocean Knight settled last in the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley first-up before hitting the line for fifth.
"It was a day they didn't run on and he did," Hayes said.
"I thought his was one of the better runs on the day without winning."
Ocean Knight was purchased by Champion Thoroughbreds in partnership with Lindsay Park Racing for $115,000 out of Trelawney Stud's 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock draft. -AAP
