Smart dual-purpose gelding Port Guillaume will make a bid for victory in Saturday’s Flemington Cup (2800m) for Lindsay Park.
The seven-year-old will represent Ben, Will, and JD Hayes, with Will aiming to join his brothers as a winner of the Flemington Cup. Ben and JD secured the title 12 months ago with Mimi’s Award.
Port Guillaume will be taking his second shot at the race, having finished fifth behind his stablemate last year.
Notably, he clinched the Australian Hurdle (3900m) two starts back and returned to the flat last time out, where he was a commendable third over 2540m at Flemington.
“He’s OK in the wet, but better with some firmer footing,” Ben Hayes remarked.
“He’s come out of his (hurdle) win well, and I thought his run on the flat last time was good.
“He loomed up and just got outsprinted a bit. He’s competitive at a high level on the flat and when he gets over the jumps, he goes really well. The ownership group have had a great experience.
“They bought him as a jumper. He’s won a flat race at Flemington, he’s won a couple of jumps races, and he’s been a very good ride for them.
“He would be a genuine top three, top four chance if he gets his preferred conditions, but it will also be a good tick-over run for the big jumps race.”
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