Cruiserweight appears to have reached a new level following his dominant victory at Caulfield.
The gelding’s triumph in the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap (1400m) on Saturday marked his third consecutive win and second since transferring to the Lindsay Park stable under Ben, Will, and J D Hayes.
Comparisons are already being drawn between Cruiserweight and the Lindsay Park champion Mr Brightside, with the Hayes brothers confident Cruiserweight can reach similar heights.
Sent off as the $3 favourite with Craig Williams in the saddle, Cruiserweight crossed the line a length ahead of Celtics ($8), with Beechworth ($13) securing third place, a further 3-¾ lengths back.
J D Hayes was measured in his response when asked to compare Cruiserweight to Mr Brightside, who achieved six straight wins before contesting a Group 1 race in his inaugural campaign for Lindsay Park.
“It was visually very impressive,” Hayes commented on Cruiserweight’s performance.
“It’s great to get a win for Punt Road Syndicate, John O’Neill and Jason Steet, and we sourced this horse together from New Zealand and he has gone from strength to strength.
“It looks like we will have a bit of fun with him going forward.
“He’s very raw. He’s not the finished product. He got up on his toe beforehand, he got hot and sweaty, but there’s plenty of upside.
“I know it’s a three-year-old race in July, but the way that he did it, hopefully he can end up where we think he can end up.”
When questioned about Cruiserweight’s potential future targets, Hayes indicated the gelding would compete through the spring aiming to improve his rating and accumulated prize money.
“What I think and what can happen are two different things,” Hayes stated.
“He will be the fit horse on the scene in the spring, and how far he goes, that’s another matter, but he is a bloody good horse.”
Williams, who had secured a race-to-race double after winning the Sportsbet Fast Form Handicap (1100m) aboard Markdel for his father Alan and brother Jason, expressed his admiration for Cruiserweight’s race day demeanor.
“They did say that he may be the new Mr Brightside and the way that he went he has scope for distance,” Williams remarked.
“He’s such a big, raw horse, and he’s got really good ability.
“They (the Hayes brothers) will get the best out of him and it will be exciting to see the path they take with him.”
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