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Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes have revised their plans of winning one of the Derby races in Australia with Apulia.
Narrowly beaten in the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington last November, Apulia was originally aimed towards the Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
But an early setback put Apulia’s preparation for that race behind schedule, so plans were abandoned and switched to the South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on May 4.
As a lead-up to the Derby in Adelaide, Apulia heads to the Galilee Series Final (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Stake money for the South Australian Derby has been increased to $1 million this year, which Ben Hayes said made the race an attractive proposition.
Apulia heads into Saturday’s 2400m with only two runs under the belt and Ben Hayes said he and his brothers were concerned the colt would be lacking in fitness for the Australian Derby, especially if the expected rain fell.
“We think he needs one more and then we’ll probably go to the South Australian Derby with him,” Hayes said.
“So, we’ll keep him here and we won’t travel to Sydney.
“They’ve upped the prize money in Adelaide for the Derby, so it is attractive to go there.”
As was the case at Moonee Valley at his last start when ninth behind Antrim Coast in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) on March 23, Apulia has drawn a poor barrier.
But in Lindsay Park’s favour is the knowledge Apulia can run a strong 2500m.
“The barrier worked against him last time. He had to make a long, sustained run, but he’s come through it well,” Hayes said.
“Everyone had the same idea of taking off at the same time that day and he kept getting pushed wider and wider on the track.
“I think with a better barrier he would have been in the finish.
“We’re happy with the horse and we’re happy to push on with him.”
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