After Mr Brightside claimed back-to-back victories in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m), Lindsay Park have made it a hat-trick, with Gentleman Roy ($5.00) holding on in a grandstand finish at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Ben, Will & JD Hayes-trained eight-year-old was on deck for his own individual hat-trick of wins on Saturday, with the son of So You Think seeking to continue his rich vein of form from the winter.
He was unable to dictate terms this time, with Mark Zahra electing to sit in behind Buffalo River ($11.00) with Ben Melham putting the handlebars down on the returning eight-year-old.
It left a stack of rivals bunching up turning for home, causing a somewhat messy finish for some key gallopers in behind.
Gentleman Roy was able to avoid the backlash as he hit the front early in the straight, leaving Pinstriped ($7.00) to make a looping run with 400m left to travel, with the Enver Jusufovic-trained gelding hanging in on Jimmy The Bear ($9.00) in the final furlong.
Pericles ($2.60) didn’t have much luck when trying to get into the clear, while New Zealand raider Aegon ($17.00) came with a withering burst when it was all over, leaving Gentleman Roy to claim an impressive victory in the 2024 P.B. Lawrence Stakes.
2024 Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes Replay – Gentleman Roy
Co-trainer JD Hayes was on course to celebrate the win and credited the entire team for the return to form for Gentleman Roy.
“It’s unbelievable just to get him back and firing,” said Hayes.
“He had a bit of time of and we nursed him back, it’s just a credit to the team we’re surrounded by and the facilities we’ve got access to be able to get him back.
“It’s quite fitting to win it with Gentleman Roy and Mr Brightside the last two because they were really pinnacle horses that were quite key to when we first got handed a license. They were both sitting in the barn as maidens, and looking back now it was quite handy.
“This was just perfect in the calendar. It’s good to finally win at Caulfield with the horse, so we’ll see how he pulls up, but I think he’s in for a nice spring.”
Mark Zahra was elated with the win of his mount and credited his toughness to claiming victory on Saturday.
“He’s a beautiful ride,” said Zahra.
“He flies the start and then he’ll come back to wherever you want.
“It’s a tough one when Buffalo River is in the race, you’ve got to time it because he can keep going so you’ve got to show him a little bit of respect, and at the 600m I thought I’ve got Buffalo River covered.
“I got to the front, and I thought he still had a bit, but when Pinstriped came he just kept fighting and finding. He’s so tough the horse, you know he won’t win by a lot, but when there’s something right beside him he’ll definitely fight it off, he’s very competitive.”
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