Star southern filly Hello Hayley is on target to become the first horse in two decades to complete the Southern 3YO Guineas Triple Crown in the rescheduled Listed Gore Guineas (1200m) at Riverton on Saturday.
Hello Hayley was the winner of one of her five starts ahead of the originally scheduled Gore Guineas on February 1, only for the meeting to be abandoned when a horse slipped in the opening race.
The Hello Youmzain filly has made massive strides in her two starts since, winning the Listed Southland Guineas (1400m) at Ascot Park in mid-February and completing a stakes double two weeks later in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1600m) at Wingatui.
With the reduction in distance from 1335m to 1200m for the rescheduled Gore Guineas, Hallo Hayley’s Winton-based trainer Sophie Price made the logical decision to freshen her in the intervening five weeks.
“Everything has gone to plan, she’s freshened up well, although looking at the entries it won’t be easy, there are some decent horses in against her and plenty of them,” Price said on Tuesday.
“The track is rated heavy8, but I’m hoping it improves on that ahead of the weekend. All her wins have been on slow-rated ground, but I suppose if it does stay in that heavy range it will make it more of a test and that shouldn’t worry her.”
Price grew up in Riverton but has lived in Winton for the duration of her 17-year training career. On top of her small racing team, she also acts as clerk of the course at racetracks in her region, which includes Riverton.
“I’ve spent more of my life in Winton than Riverton, but my parents still live there and I still consider myself a Riverton girl,” she said. “I’m looking forward to heading back there on the weekend and trying to complete the Guineas triple crown.
“There used to be a $100,000 bonus for any horse that could win all three races but not anymore, so if she can do it we would be happy to settle for bragging rights.”
Hello Hayley, a Cambridge Stud home-bred who began her career with the stud’s private trainer Lance Noble, is raced on lease by a partnership that includes Price’s husband Corey.
“I had been in touch with Cambridge’s racing manager Jason Smith to see if they had anything to lease, so it’s gone from there,” Price said.
“She’s not very big but for her size she’s pretty tough. She tests us, you have to go with her and let her do things on her terms, but I’m not complaining.
“She has her sweet side too and she still gets lots of kisses and cuddles, besides it’s easy to put up with that sort of behaviour when she’s done as well as she has.”
Any further addition this weekend to the $200,000 in stakes that Hello Hayley has already accrued would be timely for the Prices, who earlier on Tuesday signed up to a new property in Winton.
“We’re looking forward to moving from where are now to the new place, which is just around the corner from the (Winton) racecourse,” Price said.
“Everyone involved has already had a ball with this filly. Corey is the cheer leader and no doubt they’ll all be there in force again on Saturday.”
The first day of the Riverton Racing Club’s Easter meeting has drawn impressive nominations. The 21 entered for the Gore Guineas include the Te Akau trio of Cool Aza Rene, Marokopa Falls and Arctic Jewel, along with highly rated Canterbury-trained Miss Ziggy, Miss Starlight, Champagne Diblu and Steezy.
The second $80,000 feature on the card, the Riverton Cup (2147m) is headed by the Brian and Shane Anderton-trained Mayor Of Norwood and Capo Dell Impero. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
