The Lindsay Park trained Vega Magic’s odds has firmed for the Group 3 $150,000 The Big Screen Company Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Vega Magic will wear the blinkers for the first time and has attracted plenty of support at Ladbrokes.com.au, firming in from $2.20 to be the $2 favourite on race eve.

Lindsay Park‘s head trainer David Hayes, who trains in partnership with his son Ben Hayes and nephew Tom Dabernig, said that a bold first up performance is required from Vega Magic in the Bletchingly Stakes if he is to get the attention of the remaining slot holders for the 2018 $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 13.

“He is racing for a slot in The Everest and we are hoping for a good effort,” David Hayes said.

“It is a tough race and a genuine weight for age event.”

Vega Magic will be having his first run back since finishing eighth to Santa Ana Lane in the 2018 Group 1 $1m Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 19 and Hayes has decided to put the blinkers on the five year old gelding in the Bletchingly Stakes after he trialled brilliantly for Damien Oliver with the hood on in a recent Flemington jump out.

“He looks really well and trialled fantastic. Blinkers first time, has a good gate.”

Oliver has the mount on Vega Magic in the Bletchingly Stakes and the five year old will jump from barrier three in the field that has been reduced to eight runners following the scratching of the Mick Price trained three year old Ardrossan.

The Flemington track was rated a soft 5 on Friday morning and even though Vega Magic has won twice on a soft rated surface, Hayes is hoping the track stays at that rating or better for the running of the weight for age sprint.

“Hopefully the track stays not too soft,” Hayes said.

On the second line of betting for the Bletchingly Stakes is the first of Darren Weir’s three runners, Voodoo Lad, who has also firmed in the betting from $2.20 to $1.90.

The Ciaron Maher trained three year old Jukebox is the only other runner under the $10 mark at $7 with Weir’s multiple Group 1 winner Black Heart Bart marked at $10 while stablemate Camdus is the outsider of the eight horse field at $67.