AUSTRALIAN CUP

(GROUP 1)

DESPITE posting a Group 1 second over the 2,000 metres of the Turnbull Stakes in the spring, few gave Harlem any chance in the Group 1 Australian Cup over the same distance at Flemington on Saturday.

A $61 outsider, Michael Walker took the ride for Lindsay Park Racing and delivered a finely timed race that had others lamenting a perceived track bias. Formerly trained by Andre Fabre with a Group 2 placing to his name, the British-bred Champs Elysees gelding had a single Group 3 win in Australia before stepping out for his 12th start for co-trainers David Hayes, Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig.

All the rage was the French-bred Deportivo gelding Galio Chop who was the warm favourite, and at the 400 metres shaped as the winner about to pounce on the tiring The Taj Mahal. Finding the split though, Walker drove Harlem between the pair to get home by a half length, as his stablemate, the Irish-bred Zoffany gelding Ventura Storm charged home for third. The win completed a Group 1 double for Lindsay Park Racing who present as the only threat to the strength of the Darren Weir stable in Victoria.

“His first-up run was comparable to Gailo Chop’s, but he got a little bit of a cold between runs. He was able to get over it and was back to his best today,” said David Hayes.

“We bought him as a stayer but when he was a colt and it got a bit tough he wouldn’t let go at the finish but gee, he let go today. I was thrilled with the third horse (Ventura Storm) also. I think the (Group 1) Tancred for both of them and then we’ll have a look at the Sydney Cup with them.”