Lindsay Park stalwart Gentleman Roy is on a collision course with stablemate Mr Brightside after registering a breakthrough win at Caulfield.
Gentleman Roy completed a hat-trick of wins for the Lindsay Park stable of Ben, Will and JD Hayes when holding on for a fighting win in the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.
Mr Brightside had taken the previous two editions of the Lawrence Stakes before going on to claim the Group 1 Memsie Stakes over Saturday’s course and distance.
J D Hayes said the pair are likely to clash in the Memsie Stakes on August 31.
Ridden by Mark Zahra, Gentleman Roy ($5) scored a half-neck win from Pinstriped ($7) with the $2.70 betting app favourite Pericles a long neck away third.
J D Hayes joined his brother Ben in a training partnership in June 2021 while Will joined the training licence at the start of the 2023 season.
Mr Brightside and Gentleman Roy were maiden gallopers when they entered the stable and have become major money spinners for the trio.
“It’s quite fitting that we were able to win this race today with Gentleman Roy after Mr Brightside in the last two,” J D Hayes said.
“They were the two pinnacle horses that were quite key when we first got handed the licence. They were both sitting in the barn as maidens and looking back now, it was quite handy.
“I think they said it was good placement, but I think we could point them anywhere and they would just win.”
Gentleman Roy was away from racing for 11 months and Hayes said it was a credit to the staff at Lindsay Park and their facilities that enabled the gelding to get back into winning form.
The gelding scored at Flemington on August 3 and Hayes said Saturday’s race was the next logical step for Gentleman Roy as he is so highly rated.
“We had to go to weight-for-age, and this was just perfect,” Hayes said.
“And it’s good to finally win at Caulfield with the horse.”
Zahra described Gentleman Roy as a lovely ride that could be ridden anywhere.
He said he was content to let Buffalo River go, while at the same time paying respect to that galloper and was delighted with the fight Gentleman Roy showed in the closing stages.
Zahra was first across the line on Gentleman Roy in the 2023 C F Orr Stakes at Sandown, only to lose the race on protest to Jacquinot Bay.
“It’s a great training effort to have an old gelding have a long time off and to bring him back to form,” Zahra said.
“He felt as good as when I won a Group 1 on him, which was unfairly taken off me that day. He feels like he’s back in that form, so why not place him around this trip.
“At weight-for-age, he’s proven he can be competitive, so why not try again.”