Lindsay Park trainer David Hayes joined Darren Weir at the top of the Melbourne premiership table when Golden Mane collected his fourth successive win in the Johnstaff Hcp (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Hayes and his partner Tom Dabernig have prepared the winners of 30 city races this season and they believe Golden Mane is a stakes winner in waiting. “We’ve been patient and given him a bit of time,” Dabernig said. “He’s confident now and is a star of the future.
“He’s got a turn-of-foot at the end of a trip and that’s a great attribute for a stayer. He doesn’t need much work, we just keep him happy and he’s keeps racing well.”
Golden Mane is a son of Vinery champion More Than Ready and took 8 starts to break through at Bendigo in October. He progressed with further wins at Geelong and Cranbourne before passing a big test at Flemington.
“He jumped cleanly and we ended up in a lovely position,” winning apprentice Jye McNeil said. “The tempo wasn’t that quick but he relaxed and then put them away.”
Golden Mane (4g More Than Ready – True Blonde by Naturalism) cost $200,000 at the 2012 Inglis Easter yearling sale and his family remains in demand. His half-sister by Lonhro topped this year’s Magic Millions Foal sale at $710,000.
Their dam True Blonde is a half-sister to the dams of Forensics (Gr.1 Golden Slipper) and Regrowth (Gr.3 SA Breeders’ Stakes). The latter has also foaled More Than Ready’s Adelaide Gr.3 winner Colour.
