Lindsay Park will take aim at the first leg of a lucrative New Zealand double when Hello Romeo steps out at Ellerslie on Saturday.
A long-term plan of brothers Ben, Will and JD Hayes will be put to the test with the promising colt making the return trip across the Tasman for a crack at the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m).
The son of Hello Youmzain is blazing a trail that will be followed by older stablemate Evaporate, who will run in the TAB slot for Entain New Zealand in the $3.5 million The NZB Kiwi (1500m) on Champions’ Day at Ellerslie on March 8.
“It’s really exciting and he (Hello Romeo) has raced well in Victoria and has travelled very well,” Ben Hayes said.
“He’s handled all his work really well, he’s quite straight forward and flew over without a problem so we couldn’t be happier with him.
“We’re all looking forward to it, it’s a good opportunity for our stable and Will and JD will be over for the race day, and I’ll be getting over after the Saturday races here for the sale.”
Bred by Jomara Bloodstock, who remain in the ownership group, Hello Romeo was a $150,000 purchase for Lindsay Park out of Hallmark Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft and is a son of the Shooting To Win mare Julieta.
She is an unraced half-sister to Humidor, three-time Group One winner of the Australian Cup (2000m), Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) and the Memsie Stakes (1400m).
“Even at the sale, he was a big, strong type of horse from the first crop of Hello Youmzain and he was just a really nice type,” Hayes said.
Hello Romeo finished runner-up over 1000m in his spring debut at Bendigo and went one better over the course and distance at his next appearance.
He then finished fourth over 1100m at Ballarat before a break and returned to finish second in a Flemington jump-out over 800m before heading to New Zealand.
“He’s got a very high cruising speed and puts himself on pace and I think that’s a good recipe for Ellerslie,” Hayes said.
“Matthew Cartwright will ride him, he’s done a lot of riding for us over here.”
Meanwhile, the well-performed Evaporate has pleased the stable since his return to work.
“He’s in great order and will trial on Friday and will run in either the CS Hayes Stakes (Gr.3, 1400m) or the Autumn Stakes (Gr.2, 1400m) before he heads over and target the big race second-up,” Hayes said.
Evaporate has won four of his 10 starts, including the Gr.2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) and finished runner-up in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
The son of Per Incanto was spelled after tailing the field home in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m).
He was bought by Lindsay Park for A$330,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he was offered by Sledmere Stud on behalf of breeder Little Avondale Stud, who remain in the ownership. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
