Lindsay Park reached their summer target with Apulia and are now focusing on an autumn program.
Apulia, along with stable companion Plymouth, are set for the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington this Saturday, which trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes believe could pave the way for both in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 28.
A runner-up in the Victoria Derby during his three-year-old season, Apulia was aimed squarely at the Perth Summer Carnival, where the gelding secured victory in the Group 2 Perth Cup.
Following a year sidelined by injury, Apulia made his comeback last spring, triumphing in consecutive races at Moonee Valley and Flemington prior to heading west to Perth.
After finishing midfield in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes, Apulia captured the Perth Cup preparation event, the Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m), before prevailing in the Perth Cup (2400m) on January 1.
In preparation for his comeback on Saturday, Apulia completed a jump-out at Flemington last week, and Ben Hayes noted the team was satisfied with the gallop.
“He’s got good residual fitness from his trip to Perth, and we’ve kept him happy since he’s been back,” Hayes said.
“He had a good hit-out on the course proper last week in the jump-out where he was good through the line, and it showed he is on track.
“The mile will be at the shorter end for him, but he has won good races over that track and trip previously, so he can run well fresh.
“He was a fantastic three-year-old, but we just had to be on the patient side since with an injury and he’s come back great.
“He nearly won a Derby, he was a centimetre away, and it’s great to have him back.”
Hayes indicated that the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) on March 14 would probably be Apulia’s subsequent target en route to the Australian Cup.
Plymouth shares the same trajectory, and Hayes mentioned he and his siblings were thrilled with the gelding’s return effort, finishing a strong fourth behind Tom Kitten in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 7.
Plymouth’s latest start came after the spring, during which he claimed the Benalla Cup and placed second in the Caulfield Cup.
“He was a great run first-up in the Kevin Heffernan and he’s on a similar path to the Australian Cup,” Hayes said.
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