Racing: Hayes set to strike with 2yo

David Hayes. Photo / Getty Images

Dash For Cash filly Flor Do Mar is leading the Blue Diamond charge for the David Hayes stable which is about to unleash a new wave of juveniles in the next month.

Flor Do Mar, who would be unbeaten but for Blue Diamond favourite Golden Archer, will be out to redeem herself in the Thomas North Plate (1100m) at Caulfield today.

She won her debut at Morphettville beating Bay's Edge by nearly two lengths and last start at Caulfield ran home well to finish 2 lengths behind the Peter Moody-trained star.

"The horse that beat her [Golden Archer] at Caulfield is probably the best one around at the moment but she came home all right after being back off them early," Hayes' racing manager Gary Fennessy said on Thursday. "She's not over big but we haven't had any hassles with her, we are just hoping that she fires up again on Saturday."

He said it was hard to know if Flor Do Mar would make it as far as the Blue Diamond but she would be given her chance. Flor Do Mar was among a group of about 20 juveniles in the stable at Flemington and most were unraced. "A lot of the 2-year-olds are behind because there haven't been many races for them, but they are all starting to hit their straps now and run along a bit."

Hayes just missed out on winning his sixth Blue Diamond last year when Shaaheq was beaten a half-neck by Star Witness.

He won the feature three years in a row with Nadeem (2006), Sleek Chassis (2007) and Reaan (2008), while his other winners were Canonise (1991) and Principality (1995).

A home-bred, Flor Do Mar is part-owned by Hayes and is from Rory's Jester mare Storm Tossed who is from the Listed SAJC Cinderella Stakes winner Stormy Dawn.

The Moody-trained Covered In Class was an impressive Mornington winner at his debut, while Holdontoyahorses is the only other winner in the race, having scored easily at Seymour at her debut.

- AAP