Although Hayasugi didn’t win one of the competitive 800-metre trials at Cranbourne on Monday, trainer Clinton McDonald was all smiles after the session.
The Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) winner gave an impressive performance, finishing third despite settling back in the field.
The daughter of Lovatsville-based sire Royal Meeting surged home with minimal encouragement from Jamie Kah, narrowly missing second place to The Astrologist and finishing 2.5 lengths behind Pharari.
This trial was Hayasugi’s final preparation before the $750,000 Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 7, and McDonald was pleased with the outcome.
“She’s coming along really well, she’s come through the trial well and she’s exactly where we want her,” McDonald said.
Hayasugi will make her return to racing after a troubled run in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m), where she missed the start and nearly ran through the inside running rail.
Prior to that, she had won her previous three starts, including the Blue Diamond Stakes, where she defeated the subsequent Golden Slipper winner, Lady Of Camelot.
Following the Moir Stakes, Hayasugi will target the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) on September 27.
“They’re two nice races, so we’ll get through them and if we’re lucky enough to pick up one we’ll be over the moon, then we’ve got a couple of options which way we can go with her,” McDonald noted.
“We’ll get through the first two races and then we can work out whether we want to go to a Thousand Guineas or whether we keep her to the sprint trips.”
Hayasugi is listed as a $13 winning chance with horse racing bookmakers for the Moir Stakes.
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