Ben, Will and JD Hayes are hoping Stradbroke winner War Machine can challenge their dad’s superstar Ka Ying Rising in The Everest and it will come down to whether he can stand in his spring return on Saturday.
War Machine, who hasn’t been seen on raceday since his Stradbroke victory, has Everest slotholder Mulberry Racing interested, but they want confirmation that he has returned well from either the Gilgai Stakes at Flemington or the Premiere Stakes at Randwick.
“We have been in contact with a slotholder, but they rightly want to see what he can do on the weekend. If I had a slot that’s what I would do,” Ben Hayes said.
“It would be a fantastic race to be a part of [the Everest], but no matter what happens, he will be in Sydney on Everest day because the Sydney Stakes is the other option.”
“We are going to be nominated for both Sydney and Melbourne with him to give us options.”
“He has had two trials in six days, so it would be easier to stay at Flemington and just walk across the road for the Gilgai.”
“He is ready to step up and show that he is up with the best sprinters. It would be nice to take on Ka Ying Rising.”
The Hayes brothers will only accept with Café Millenium for the Epsom, but he will also be kept in the Paris Lane Stakes at Flemington.
Café Millenium was third in the 2024 Randwick Guineas when in the John O’Shea stable, but was moved to Lindsay Park in May, and he has won three of his six starts, including his past two at 1400m, since arriving.
“He needs a dry track, so we will keep him in in both Sydney and Melbourne,” Hayes said. “I think we will see his best at a mile on a big track, and he has shown that he likes Randwick in the past.”
“He is the only one we are thinking about for the Epsom, Evaporate [Saturday’s Sandown Stakes winner] will stay in Melbourne for the Toorak Handicap.”
“Rise At Dawn [runner-up to Waterford in Saturday’s Shannon Stakes] is not a back-up horse and will wait for the Five Diamonds Prelude with him.”
