Former smart three-year-old Crosshaven (Smart Missile) is set to make his spring return at Caulfield.
The Lindsay Park pair of Ben and JD Hayes will be hoping for a better outcome from Crosshaven when he resumes at Caulfield.
The Hayes boys were left disappointed with Aysar’s (Deep Field) performance in the Gr. 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington last Saturday and will be represented by Crosshaven in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Both Aysar and Crosshaven met on numerous occasions as spring three-year-olds and were supposed to be heading to Hong Kong to join David Hayes.
“But the deals fell through, so it’s been good our stable, but not so good for dad,” Ben Hayes said.
“We’re very happy to have them, they’re both classy horses.”
Crosshaven had a jump-out at Flemington on Monday against Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Best Of Days (Azamour) and hasn’t raced since finishing last in the Gr. 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield during the autumn.
Hayes said all Crosshaven needed to do was take no harm from that jump-out to run on Saturday.
Crosshaven’s spring campaign will initially be aimed at the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on August 28 and the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) on September 18.
Hayes mentioned the $7.5 million Golden Eagle as a potential assignment, although Crosshaven also holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley.
“We might lower our sights if he runs below expectations, but I don’t think he will,” Hayes said.
“He’s in fantastic order and back to his old self as he had a few feet issues last prep.
“He wasn’t unsound, he was feeling the ground a bit but we’ve really worked on that and our farrier has done a great job.
“This time of year, with a bit of cut should be ideal and being a Smart Missile, they generally like a bit of give.”
The Regal Roller has attracted 19 nominations including Away Game (Snitzel), Beau Rossa (Unencumbered), La Mexicana (I Am Invincible), Romancer (NZ) (Redwood) and former Singapore star The Inferno (Holy Roman Emperor).
An $80,000 yearling graduate of Haunui Farm’s 2019 Karaka Book 1 draft, Crosshaven was initially passed in before selling to Lindsay Park with breeder Daniel Nakhle retaining a share.
Crosshaven is the fifth winner from Daniel and Elias Nakhle’s Group Two winning mare Irish Colleen (NZ) (Shinko King), who is also the dam of Group Three winner Killarney (NZ) (O’Reilly) and seven-race winner Neeson (NZ) (O’Reilly).
