Euroa’s Lindsay Park to front up Tijuana and Croatian Belle at rescheduled Magic Millions race meeting

By Aydin Payne

Jan 16, 2023

Let’s go again: Lindsay Park will saddle up Tijuana at the rescheduled Magic Millions meeting. Photo: Racing Photos Photo by Ross Holburt

The extraordinary abandonment of the Magic Millions race meeting on Saturday may prove to be a blessing in disguise for Euroa’s Lindsay Park stable.

Co-trainer Ben Hayes spoke to Racing.com following the decision to postpone the final eight races of the lucrative Gold Coast meeting after unexpected rain threw a spanner in the works.

The conditions of the track — which officials watered during the week as they expected 1mm of rain before more than 14mm fell on race day — deteriorated quickly which had stewards deem it a heavy 10 by the time the first race started.

Jockeys voted to call off the meeting after race two due to the state of the track and the postponed races 3-10 will be run on Thursday at the same venue.

Hayes, who trains in partnership with younger brother JD, will saddle up promising duo Tijuana and Croatian Belle in the 3YO Guineas ($2 million) and 2YO Classic ($2 million) respectively.

Speaking on Saturday after the call to abandon the Magic Millions meeting, Hayes said, although the decision impacted a range of stakeholders, it may prove to be a blessing for his stable’s two runners.

“It was very disappointing for everyone because they came up, booked flights and were really excited and we thought both horses were in really good order,” he said.

“But I don’t think it’s a bad thing for both of our horses.

“Croatian Belle’s two weeks between runs ... we’ll be able to get another gallop on her Sydney leg and she’ll only be about two-and-a-half weeks between runs going into it, so it shouldn’t affect her at all. We’ll just do a little bit of work with her early in the week and she should be spot-on for the race.

“And Tijuana, I think the extra time is only going to benefit him as well.

“Tijuana’s going to be first-up, so it lets us give him one more gallop into it and have him that little bit more forward for a good positive first-up run.”

The Magic Millions race program isn’t the only thing that lured Hayes and his team to the Gold Coast.

The 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale came to a close at the weekend and Hayes is excited about how the recent purchases will perform later on down the line.

“We wanted to improve slightly on last year and were able to purchase some really nice horses,” Hayes said.

“We’re really happy with our horses and can’t wait to see how they go in a year’s time.“