The on-fire Lindsay Park team will avoid a run-in with the worldâs best racehorse Winx this autumn targeting the 2017 Doncaster Mile with the imported Dibayani.
Winx scared 2017 Doncaster Mile-bound Dibayani out of a Chipping Norton Stakes run last weekend. Photo: Chipping Norton Stakes.
Co-trainer David Hayes knows that racing against Chris Wallerâs now ten-time Group 1 winner would be fruitless and plans to keep Shamardal seven-year-old Dibayani away from the heroic mare from here on in.
The gelding, who remains a maiden on Australian turf after 14 runs down under, has already been beaten by the dual Cox Plate champion three times previously and Hayes believes that is enough.
“She’s a little bit too good for him,â Hayes admitted to AAP this week.
Dibayani first met Winx in last autumnâs Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) running fourth, before a second to her in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m).
Winx completed the same Apollo Stakes â Chipping Norton Stakes double this season, the Street Cry five-year-old ultra-impressive in the latter winning on a Heavy (9) Randwick track.
Dibayani crossed for fourth again in this yearâs Apollo Stakes results, but after being defeated by nine lengths the stable opted not to run him in the Chipping Norton Stakes for a second serving.
Instead the veteran has been saved for a March 11 run at Rosehill Gardens in the $200,000 Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m).
Winx meanwhile will next be on show the following Saturday, March 18, at the track on Golden Slipper Stakes Day in the $1 million Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) out to extend her winning streak to sixteen on the trot.
After the Ajax Stakes Dibayani will press onto Day 1 of The Championships at Royal Randwick on April 1 for a shot at the $3 million Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m).
Winx hit the headlines winning last yearâs Doncaster Mile carrying an impressive 56.5kg to a two length victory as the odds-on favourite.
That would be her final handicap assignment, the $9.8 million earner now out-weighted of such races and instead sticking to dominating the weight-for-age features around the country.
Hayes is hoping that the three second place efforts from as many starts over the mile at Royal Randwick would be form enough to see Dibayani run well in the Doncaster Mile 2017.
“He’s been beaten three times by Winx and ran second to Hauraki in an Epsom,â he said.
“It reads as good Doncaster form.”
Along with the 2016 Chipping Norton second, the horseâs other 1600m starts at the track were a second to Hauraki in last Octoberâs Epsom Handicap and second to Sense Of Occasion in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes under 59kg in December.
Dibayani currently sits equal 33rd in the Doncaster Mile ballot with just 53kg, the race having a field limit of 20 starters plus four emergencies.
Futures Doncaster Mile odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have Dibayani listed as a $26 shot with markets led by Winxâs young stablemate Omei Sword ($8).
The last Ajax Stakes winner to back directly up and win the Doncaster Mile next start meanwhile was Grand Armee (2003).
Hayes said the team could also press onto the 2017 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival with Dibayani this season.
“He races best on his Sydney leg and if he’s in form we could target some races in Brisbane with him,” Hayes said.
“He doesn’t race as well down here in Melbourne.”
To back Dibayani next race and view the latest Winx odds, head to Ladbrokes.com.au now!