Melbourne Cup winner Americain continued his build-up to the $1m, Group One Dubai Australian Cup (2000m) under new trainer David Hayes with an exhibition gallop at the Seymour races on Thursday.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Working with Budai, another import from the Hayes stable, the two stepped out from the 1200m before quickening in the straight to record a last 600m time of 34.8sec with Americain just shading Budai on the line.
Rider Steven Arnold took a further 800m to pull Americain up.
“He went really well and quickened well,” Arnold said.
“He was strong at the line and I could not pull him up."
“I'm very happy,” Hayes told TVN.
“He wasn't out to run time. What I liked about the work was how long it took to pull him up.
“He wanted to do more so I know the 2000 [metres in the Australian Cup] won't worry him."
Hayes said he had some work to do to have Americain ready for Group One company in the Australian Cup with the aim of retaining the stayer's turn of foot the key to succeeding.
“It's a juggling act having him fresh enough so he can explode and to have him fit enough,” Hayes said.
Americain is the $4.20 favourite on TAB Sportsbet's Australian Cup market.
Darley produced the outstanding three-year-old Sepoy for a solo gallop under regular rider Kerrin McEvoy.
The Dubai bound Elusive Quality colt is being geared towards the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) before contesting the Group One Golden Shaheen (1200m) at Meydan on March 31.
Sepoy worked over 1200m and quickened at the 400m before sprinting down the Seymour straight, with McEvoy keeping the colt under a hold
Clocker Daryl Sherer timed Sepoy's last 600m at 33.7sec.
“He came here to have a good hit-out and he did that,” Darley's Melbourne foreman Paul Snowden said.
“We had it mind to come and do this a fortnight ago. It was a fantastic surface to work him on.
“He had a really good blow after the work but he always does. We are very happy with him."
“He was very relaxed and working by himself was an opportunity to sit cold on him and click him up. There is improvement in him and I am very happy,” McEvoy said.
