Just like the AFL Preliminary Finals, there is a lot at stake in the MRC Foundation Cup at Caulfield.
A place in the AFL Grand Final at the MCG awaits the winners of games on Friday and Saturday night while victory in the MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) on Saturday affords the winner a ballot exemption into the Caulfield Cup (2000m) on October 21.
For the Ben, Will & J D Hayes-trained The Summit, Saturday’s outing in the MRC Foundation Cup is his Preliminary Final as he has not passed the first ballot clause to gain a start in the Caulfield Cup 2023.
The Summit was allocated 50kg when weights for the Caulfield Cup were released on Tuesday and is equal 78th in the Order of Entry.
“It’s a bit of a D-day for him,” Ben Hayes said.
“Depending on how he performs, will depend on how we place him.
“There’s lots of races around the Caulfield Cup that we could head to, so the Caulfield Cup is not the be-all and end-all, but it’s the dream and it’s the race we would like to run him in.
“He needs to win this to stamp himself.”
A former French galloper that was purchased to race in Hong Kong before suffering a tendon injury after three starts in the Asian racing hub, The Summit has had three starts since joining Lindsay Park, all well-spaced.
After winning at Moonee Valley in July, The Summit next appeared with an eye-catching fourth in the Heatherlie Handicap (1700m) at Caulfield on September 2.
“He was a very good run in the Heatherlie,” Hayes said.
“Going into that race we had freshened him as it was a few weeks between runs.
“His coat is good, his work has been good leading up to the race, but it’s a hard race and every other horse is probably in the same boat as we are.
“It’s the first time we’ve got him out to his more preferred trip, so hopefully we can see a result.”