A lineup of 15 runners is expected to contest the renowned Flemington straight six furlongs in the Newmarket Handicap.
Leading up to Wednesday’s acceptances, there was much speculation about which horses would make the cut, and the top-rated three-year-old Tentyris is included in the field of 15 pursuing Group 1 success to join an honour roll stretching back to 1874.
Tentyris aims to follow in the footsteps of other recent three-year-old victors such as Placid Ark (1987), Schillaci (1992), Exceed And Excel (2004), Weekend Hussler (2008), Brazen Beau (2015), Bivouac (2020) and Cylinder (2024).
However, carrying 57kg, Tentyris must match the weight-carrying benchmark for a three-year-old established by Ajax in 1938.
The colt has tackled the Flemington straight four times previously and delivered stunning performances in his latest two triumphs, securing the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) during the spring carnival and the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) upon his seasonal reappearance on February 14.
Mark Zahra reunites with Tentyris on Saturday following Damian Lane’s ride to success last start, with the duo drawing barrier 12.
Aiming to halt Tentyris’s perfect record along the Flemington straight is the Lindsay Park operation run by Ben, Will and J D Hayes.
Lindsay Park seeks its initial Newmarket triumph since Redkirk Warrior’s consecutive wins in 2017 and 2018.
Significant shifts have occurred at Lindsay Park in the intervening years since David and Ben Hayes along with Tom Dabernig led the stable.
The Hayes brothers will have War Machine representing them on Saturday, drawn in barrier 11 with Jamie Mott resuming the ride.
Mott guided War Machine to victory on debut for Lindsay Park at Caulfield in May prior to the sprinter’s travels to Brisbane for successes in the BRC Sprint and Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.
War Machine’s most recent outing was a third placing as the $1.30 favourite in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on January 23.
Since then, the sprinter has completed two jump-outs, placing third behind Wodeton in his latest at Flemington last Friday.
Ben Hayes noted the stable’s satisfaction with War Machine’s development after a freshen-up post-Pakenham.
“He’s spot on and will bounce back,” Hayes said.
“We were really happy with his jump-out and I thought he was great through the line.
“He didn’t handle the night meeting, and it was a very firm track that night and he jarred up, but he seems right back on track now.”
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