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Lindsay Park eye stakes success with European-bred

Having run fifth behind Mr Quickie (Shamus Award) in the Victoria Handicap (Gr 3, 1400m) on April 3, Lindsay Park are hopeful British-bred Biometric (Bated Breath) can breakthrough for his first win in Australia when he lines up in the Anniversary Stakes (Listed, 1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. 

The son of Bated Breath (Dansili) has placed just once in his eight starts in Australia, since he was transferred from Ralph Beckett’s UK base, for whom he won three times. 

"He's been quite frustrating but we've worked out now that's he's probably a sit back, 1400-metre horse, with a sharp turn of foot," Ben Hayes said. 

"We tried him out to a mile for a couple of starts but he did run well here in the Group 3 a couple of weeks ago and I think if you can ride him quiet, and produce late, he can run a really nice race." 

Biometric has struck problems in his races on occasions and on his Australian debut at Caulfield last May, when well-supported, was badly held up. 

The gelding has had a breathing problem, hence a problem running out 1600 metres, and Hayes said Biometric was one of the unluckier imports to come to the Lindsay Park stable. 

"He's been held up a lot and had a lot of bad luck stories, so he can bounce back," Hayes said. 

"He can feel his runs, but this time he bounced out of it, so that's good signs going forward."