Ventura Storm Eyes Melbourne Cup

Everyone’s got a Melbourne Cup formula, and David Hayes is looking to replicate tried-and-true methods with Ventura Storm.

The European import made an impression on his Australian debut, the Zoffany entire finishing fifth behind stablemate Extra Zero in the Archer Hall of Fame Trophy (2000m).

Hayes was more than satisfied with the fresh run from the four-year-old, who was a Group 1 winner over 2400m in Italy in October.

That’ll be it for him for now, before a potential spring kick-off in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) in September.

“The Melbourne Cup’s his spring aim; he was bought for the Melbourne Cup,” Hayes told RSN 927’s Correct Weight on Sunday.

“He’s a horse that just got beaten an inch in an English St Leger, then won the best weight-for-age race in Italy at his last start, Group 1.

“I was just thrilled with his tactical speed [on Saturday], and I thought he was going to win halfway down the straight.

“But 62kg [59kg after Mitch Aitken’s claim], 2000m, first-up, I seriously haven’t wound him up much yet. So we’ll do what we did with Jeune, At Talaq… that one run in May, then back off him and bring him back in September and build him up gradually for the Melbourne Cup.

“I was wildly excited about Extra Zero, but I was just as happy looking forward with Ventura Storm.”

WATCH: Ventura Storm and Extra Zero in the Archer Hall of Fame Trophy

 

At Talaq was trained by David’s father C.S. Hayes, and won the 1986 Melbourne Cup as a six-year-old, before David got his own name on the Cup honour roll in 1994 with another six-year-old, Jeune.

It is a different style preparation compared to last year’s winner Almandin, who made an Australian debut in June, and then had well-spaced runs right through to the Melbourne Cup five starts later.

“We’ll probably kick him off in the old Craiglee, the Makybe Diva [September 16],” Hayes added.

“Or [we could] probably hit form in a Turnbull [October 7] if Winx isn’t around.

“With natural improvement, he’ll develop into those better class races and he’ll be well-suited because he’s fully qualified for the Melbourne Cup.”

It says enough about the Lindsay Park operation that they have six winners in two states on the one day, including a Group 1 winner, but among the more exciting prospects was a fifth-placegetter.

Ventura Storm is $34 in Melbourne Cup betting with CrownBet.

And as pulsating as the wins of Vega Magic in the Goodwood and Extra Zero in his 100th start were, there was definitely an element of pride in Hayes’ voice when it came to talking about Tashbeeh, as well.

The Shadwell colours, which of course were donned in those Cup wins by At Talaq and Jeune, were again to the fore at Flemington, via the ever-versatile Tashbeeh in the Listed Hilton Nicholas Straight Six (1200m).

The five-year-old son of Commands has won seven races from 31 starts, and at Flemington, he added a straight win to his victories from the 1400m, 1600m and 2000m chutes, as well as being stakes placed from the 1800m.

“Tashbeeh went in off one trial, and I thought would have nice improvement in him [beyond this run], and he showed he’s got that little bit of class,” Hayes said.

“I’m so thrilled he could pick up the black-type, because he’s been such a good performer for the stable for so long.”

Tashbeeh’s overall Flemington record now reads 11:4-0-4, with only one non top-four finish at Headquarters.

– racing.com

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