As confirmed by their Hall of Fame trainer back in June, imported stayer and Melbourne Cup hope Jet Away will target the Makybe Diva Stakes 2013 first-up this spring.
David Hayes reported this week the Cape Cross stallion was still on track for that first-up run next month, the newly upgraded $350,000 Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) to run at Flemington on September 7.
Previously prepped in Great Britain by Sir Henry Cecil the now six-year-old Jet Away has had two runs for Hayes winning both.
Their first was a nice effort over Zabisco in the Yalumba Golden Mile at Bendigo in mid-March followed two weeks later by a Group 3 win over 2000m at Caulfield in the Easter Cup.
That was enough to convince Hayes he had a serious spring cup contender in his care, Jet Away not having won a Group race before coming to Australia.
As they haven’t been down the Flemington straight before Hayes said he was considering giving them a trial there ahead of the Makybe to give Jet Away a feel for the track.
“I think the course proper is available two weeks before and he’ll probably have a hit out there,” Hayes told Racing Victoria.
While the Makybe Diva Stakes is a nice resuming option giving them a chance to bag a Group 1 early in the season, Hayes has much grander plans for them.
He is hoping the horse can go all the way to the first Tuesday of November for the ‘race that stops a nation’ – the $6.2 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Hayes is also preparing for the new season return of another of his star imports, Motivado.
Winner of the Group 3 Queen’s Cup (2500m) in Adelaide at just their second start for Hayes the now five-year-old Motivator gelding is also heading towards the Melbourne Cup 2013.
They will go there via a run in the $120,000 Listed The Bart Cummings (2500m) at the famous Flemington course on October 5, Turnbull Stakes Day.
Hayes is hoping they can win that race and earn a weight penalty to help push them up the Melbourne Cup ballot and earn a spot in the 24-horse final field for the world’s richest handicap.
“He’s qualified for the Melbourne Cup but he would haven’t the handicap (to beat the ballot) yet,” Hayes said.
“He’s tracking well. I hoping to kick him off in August and he’s being set for The Bart Cummings.
“He’ll maybe start off over 2000 (metres), or maybe a mile, it just depends on how he works in the next couple of weeks.”
While Motivado is yet to be added to the futures Melbourne Cup odds, Jet Away is already considered a top fancy paying $26 in markets led by Puissance De Lune ($9).
To check out the full pre-nomination betting on the Cup and get behind your early picks at the juicy prices head over to bookmaker.com.au today!
