Racing: Hayes takes over training of top-class British stayer

Irish stayer Changingoftheguard will head to Melbourne, but under the care of trainer David Hayes, not Aidan O'Brien.

But the chances of Changingoftheguard running in this year's Melbourne Cup appear unlikely.

Changingoftheguard, subject to passing a veterinary examination, will go into quarantine and arrive with the second wave on international horses on Caulfield Guineas Day.

Hayes won a buying battle against several other prominent Australian stables and syndicates.

He said the 4-year-old would be trained from the quarantine centre with the other overseas horses.

Hayes said his first thought was to run Changingoftheguard in either the SAAB Quality (2500m) on the opening day of the VRC carnival or the Queen Elizabeth (2500m) on the final day.

"I really bought him with 2010 in mind," Hayes told the Herald Sun.

"I'll keep him in training and make a decision re the Cup when he gets here. He's the same age and has a similar formline to Mahler."

The O'Brien-trained Mahler ran second in the English St Leger (3000m) - Changingoftheguard ran sixth - before finishing a three-length third behind Efficient in the 2007 Melbourne Cup.

Hayes said he was keen to build a formidable assault on the 2010 Cup, the 150th Melbourne Cup.

The VRC is expected to inject a considerable prizemoney spike on top of this year's A$5.5 million.

"I've really been wanting to secure a quality stayer. He has terrific formlines compared to other European horses that have come here and performed well," Hayes.

"The Ulster Derby and Ebor have been a good guide and he's run his skin off in both of them. He's probably favourite not to run in the Cup, but I never say never. I'll work it out when he gets here."

Hayes sealed the deal soon after Changingoftheguard finished sixth in Saturday's English St Leger.

He said the son of Montjeu caught his eye when he visited Europe several months ago.