Trainer Ben Hayes is backing War Machine to bounce back when he lines up in Saturday’s $3 million Russell Balding Stakes at Randwick.

The explosive gelding finished 10th in The Everest, but Hayes says the run wasn’t as disappointing as it appeared.

“He sprinted really well fresh and then got a bit crowded and a bit further back than we wanted in The Everest,” Hayes said. “The 1300 is right up his alley and he’ll go really well.”

War Machine won the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) earlier this spring and claimed the Stradbroke Handicap in June.

“Obviously we were a little disappointed with his Everest run, but he actually ran quite good sectionals… I think only Angel Capital ran better,” Hayes said.

Tim Clark rides again from barrier seven, with the Orr Stakes his next target.