Lindsay Park Racing will saddle two runners in Saturday's feature event at Caulfield and co-trainer David Hayes is adopting a realistic approach
Keen Array and Tashbeeh are starters in the $150,000 Group III Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) and Hayes, who trains the pair in partnership with son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig, said he expects both to be running on late.
Keen Array has not raced since finishing unplaced in the Group I Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot last November.
A son of Bel Esprit, Keen Array has won three times at Listed level over 1200m at Caulfield and although he has the benefit of two recent jumpouts over 800m at Flemington, Hayes cautions punters about expecting too much from the four-year-old.
"I certainly wouldn't be surprised if he won but common sense tells me that, after such a long layoff, he might need the run and will probably be improved by it," Hayes said.
Hayes has also kept an eye on the weather forecast ahead of Saturday's race.
"Looking at the forecast it appears there will be a stiff breeze tomorrow so we'll probably let him find his feet early rather than working forward into the wind," Hayes said.
"We're hoping he will develop into a 1400(metre) horse so we'll be looking for him to run on. The race I've got in mind for him later in the spring is the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes."
Keen Array will be joined in the race by Tashbeeh and Hayes said the entire will be doing his best work late.
"He had a break between his first-up win and his last start and he's much fitter now. He's another we're looking at be peaking over 1400 (metres)." Hayes said.
Regan Bayliss will be aboard Keen Array, generally available at $11, while Cory Parish will partner Tashbeeh, a best-priced $36 chance with Sportsbet.
