3 minute read

Pioneer River and Aidensfield will represent Lindsay Park in the A R Creswick Stakes at Flemington.

As Tom Dabernig enters the late stages of his time with Lindsay Park it has not diminished his determination of adding to his haul of winners. 

Dabernig leaves Lindsay Park at season's end with the stable left in the hands of Ben and JD Hayes, sons of champion trainer David Hayes who is based in Hong Kong. 

Approaching 1600 winners with the Hayes family, Dabernig would like to top that milestone and also break the 150 mark, currently 147, with Ben Hayes before he departs. 

Lindsay Park holds a strong hand in Saturday's feature at Flemington, the Listed A R Creswick Stakes (1200m) represented by Aidensfield and Pioneer River. 

Dabernig is confident Aidensfield can return to her winning ways of a little over 12 months ago when the filly was successful at her first two starts on rain-affected going at Caulfield and Sandown. 

Lindsay Park thought enough of the Aidensfield to tackle 'black type' in the spring with the filly placed twice before running 10th in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield. 

It was a different Aidensfield that appeared in the autumn and the filly was turned out after one run when fifth in the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes at Caulfield in February. 

"There was no real major issue, but her action wasn't quite the same so we gave her a good break and she seems free and normal again and her jump-outs have been good," Dabernig said. 

"She likes a little bit of give in the ground also so hopefully she'll be well-placed over winter." 

Pioneer River has excellent credentials on the Flemington straight course, but is finding it hard to win. 

Unplaced on debut behind Ole Kirk in the Talindert Stakes, Pioneer River has had four subsequent straight races for a win and three seconds. 

His most recent was behind Saturday's topweight Curran over 1100m on June 5. 

"He's got quite good form down the straight, so I'm expecting him to again run well," Dabernig said.