3 minute read
Lindsay Park is hoping Rosehill proves a happy hunting ground as they chase a stakes win with Barbie’s Fox.
A last-start pick-up ride could deliver Zac Lloyd the final black-type race of the Sydney season with the outstanding young apprentice retaining the Winter Challenge mount on Lindsay Park raider Barbie's Fox.
The mare had little luck when fourth to Ucalledit in the Winter Stakes (1400m), finding herself bailed up behind a wall of horses in the straight before charging to the line once clear to be beaten less than two lengths.
Lloyd only picked up the ride after his original mount, Brigantine, was scratched and JD Hayes, co-trainer of Barbie's Fox alongside brother Ben, was more than happy to keep the in-form hoop on board.
Not only does Hayes feel that Lloyd's knowledge of the mare will be an advantage, he is also banking on the junior rider's thirst to overhaul rival Dylan Gibbons in their race for the Sydney apprentices' championship to fuel his desire for a win.
"He's fighting out the apprentices' premiership at the moment, so he is nice and hungry," JD Hayes said.
"She was very unlucky last start. She has been staying at Rosehill and she has continued to go from strength to strength."
Barbie's Fox joined the Lindsay Park team in May last year and while she managed a Caulfield win a few months later, her form has been more consistent in her second preparation for the trainers.
She has travelled to Sydney with the sole focus of winning a valuable black-type race and Hayes feels the six-year-old is in peak form.
"She came to us in excellent condition and we've been able to use our facilities this time around and put a nice base on her," Hayes said.
"With natural maturity she is coming of age.
"She is a mare that has performed really well in some nice races, but she has never been able to get that Listed win, so we're just trying to get a little bit of black type with her."
A $5.50 chance, Barbie's Fox is among a strong book of rides for Lloyd, who will compete in all 10 races with none of his mounts rated longer than $9.
The Godolphin apprentice heads into the meeting trailing Gibbons by two wins, the latter also receiving good support with his nine rides headed by two early favourites - Diamond Diesel in the opening race and first emergency Semana in the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m).