David Hayes says Cool Chap has the class to finally snap stable hoodoo

[Ulquiorra]

DAVID Hayes has dubbed Cool Chap as the class act for Saturday’s Winter Championship (1600m) at Flemington as he bids to end the stable’s 33-year drought in the event.

Surprisingly, Lindsay Park’s only victory in the 37-year-old event was when Hayes’ father, Colin, trained Kiwi Slave to win in 1985.

“He’s the class act in this race,” Hayes said of Cool Chap.

“He finished second in the Blamey Stakes not far behind one of Australia’s best horses in Humidor over this track and distance in March this year.”

Cool Chap followed that effort with a sixth in the Doncaster Mile.

“You’ve got to say he’s well placed with those formlines,” Hayes said.

“He’s going to be suited by a fast run race.”

Cool Chap is an $8 fifth favourite with TAB fixed odds.

Hayes said he had kept Cool Chap in work at Lindsay Park and he was thriving.

“This is a nice race for him to target,” he said.

“I’ve kept him in work the whole time like we’ve done with Jacquinot Bay, who hasn’t had a spell for two years.”

Jacquinot Bay ($17) will also contest the Winter Championship and Hayes isn’t discounting his prospects.

“He’s 10, but he doesn’t know how to run a bad race and I can’t see that changing,” Hayes said.

“If it rains that will increase his chances.”

At his past three starts, Jacquinot Bay finished second at Flemington and Caulfield before winning his last start at Moonee Valley.

Frontrunner Mihany ($26) is the third Hayes’ runner and could surprise if allowed to bowl along unchallenged.

TWEET CAUSES PAYNE IN POCKET
MELBOURNE Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne has again incurred the wrath of Racing Victoria stewards for her Twitter use.

Payne was fined $500 for her tweet on Wednesday that criticised the Sandown Hillside surface.

She said it was too firm and cruel to horses, despite not being at the track.

Payne was criticised on Twitter for the tweet, which she later withdrew. She also apologised to the Melbourne Racing Club.

Deputy chief steward Rob Montgomery found her guilty but took into account her follow-up actions.

Victorian Jockeys’ Association chief Matthew Hyland has spoken to Payne about how to air her grievances.

“We’ve suggested to her a better forum is to tell the VJA about it and we’ll get more involved and, if need be, take it to the next level,” he said.

“Michelle understands she did the wrong thing.

“Going forward she wants to get actively involved in the association.”

Payne had previously been fined $1500 for tweeting criticism of Flemington.

WARRIOR ON THE REBOUND
REDKIRK Warrior can bounce back from his 10th in the Diamond Jubilee when he contests the July Cup at Newmarket next Saturday.

“He’s done that before … although he was running in a straight line he got on his Sydney leg and when he does that he doesn’t run well,” Hayes said.

He said Vega Magic would resume in the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield on July 28 as he chases a start in The Everest, a race in which he finished second last year.

“If we get him up and going I’m sure someone will give him a slot,” Hayes said.