Horse Racing

Trainer David Hayes will be hoping to turn his luck around during tomorrow?s Emirates Stakes Daywith three contenders in the major Group One event and one contender in the Patinack Farm Classic.

Eagle Falls is Hayes? major contender in the $1 million Emirates Stakes and the trainer is confident the gelding is capable of rising 400 meters in distance for the event.

Although the four year old recently won the 1200m Salinger Stakes, he is yet to win a 1600m event and tomorrow?s race will determine whether Eagle Falls will remain a sprinter or if he can handle the longer distances.

Drawing barrier 15, Hayes has been working with Eagle Falls to see if going forward or staying back in the race will suit the horse best.

The trainer?s second runner in the Emirates Stakes is four year old All American which is hoping for a change of luck after a disappointing spring campaign so far.

Starting from barrier six, the stallion is highly competitive after running third in the Crystal Mile despite not placing better than sixth in his last few meetings.

Von Costa De Hero has only won one race out of eighteen starts and although he seems like an unlikely winner of the event, the stallion has proven that he is capable of running a mile after an excellent trial the other day.

Apart from his strong hand in the Emirates Stakes, Hayes also has his four year old Nicconi in the Group One Patinack Farm Classic.

The trainer has been talking up Nicconi?s prospects in this race as this has been the event he has been preparing the stallion for.

Although he hasn?t been raced since placing third in the Manikato Stakes in September, Hayes is confident that Nicconi will be able to beat Apache Cat and Turffontein in the 1200m event.

Ridden by Brad Rawiller, Nicconi will be using the Patinack Farm Classic as a boost to an overseas campaign that will hopefully see the horse in Dubai or the UK in autumn.

Patinack Farm Classic Current Field