Hayes brothers hoping for another Diamond in Eurocanto
Lindsay Park hope they have another two-year-old star by Per Incanto (Street Cry) after Eurocanto flew home to win a thrilling edition of Victoria’s first juvenile race of the season, the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (Listed, 1000m).
Bred and sold to the Hayes brothers by Tony Bott’s Evergreen Stud for $250,000 at Magic Millions Gold Coast, Eurocanto was solid in the betting at $8 after a pair of jump-out seconds under Mark Zahra, who retained the ride at Flemington on Saturday.
Bearing the blue with a red V of senior part-owner Carl Holt, the colt was outsped after a decent start from gate three and settled seventh near the fence in the field of five colts and five fillies.
Eurocanto was still buried away at the 400 metres as Zahra looked for a way clear, drifting towards the outside. The colt finally found a passage at the 200 metres but was still four lengths off the leaders.
However, under vigorous riding he finished powerfully to snatch victory on the bob of the head from Clinton McDonald’s gallant filly Streisand (Magnus), the $5.50 third-favourite.
In a bunched finish, Team McEvoy filly One Day At A Time (Bivouac) also finished well for third, beaten 0.5 lengths, at $4. Waterhouse-Bott’s $3.70 favourite and Sydney official trials winner Knightsbridge (Farnan) was fifth, 1.4 lengths off the winner.
For Ben, JD and Will Hayes, Eurocanto revives memories of their 2023 Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Little Brose, another son of Per Incanto who’s this year crossed the Tasman to stand alongside his sire at Little Avondale Stud. Per Incanto’s first son at stud is standing for $15,000 (plus GST).
After Eurocanto’s win, JD Hayes said he could draw a comparison between the colt and Little Brose, who came from seventh to win his Blue Diamond by a length.
“It’s a little bit early, but he was a little ‘Brosey’ there. It was a terrific ride. He got last crack at them and he attacked the line, which is what you like to see. It was a professional performance,” said Hayes, who lauded bloodstock agent Dean Hawthorne for helping in the colt’s purchase.
“He was picked out by our sales team up at the Magic Millions. Dean Hawthorne does a terrific job. We really liked him and we’ve had good success with the stallion.
“He’s an athletic style of horse with plenty of improvement to come and it was good to be able to kick off his career in that fashion.”
Zahra sprang a surprise by saying “I usually don’t like riding two-year-olds too early”, but added he had made an exception for Eurocanto.
“When the Hayes’s call, I’ll pick up the phone because they’ll usually identify one that they’re happy with and they want me to trial it. It is a good process and if I like it, then I’ll stick with it,” he said.
“That is what happened with this guy. I trialled him twice and liked him two times and he’s got the job done today.
“His manners in the barriers left a little bit to be desired, but I just left him alone. It is a tough test first-up up the straight over 1000 [metres] and I like to be the last one on the scene.
“He did that well. He was able to travel up behind them and showed good grit late to win. I was able to come down the middle and quicken, which is hard for them to do. Good effort and well trained.”
Hayes said Eurocanto might now be headed towards the Maribyrnong Plate (Gr 3, 1000m) on Melbourne Cup day.
“We’ll see how he pulls up and it would be tempting, all systems go, into Cup week,” he said. “But first and foremost we’ll see how he is first thing in the morning.”
Eurocanto became the 34th stakes winner worldwide from 672 runners – at 5.1 per cent – for Per Incanto, a tally that includes nine Group 1 victors. In Australia, the 21-year-old has 14 black type winners from 198 starters, at 7.1 per cent, while in New Zealand he has 23 from 408 at 5.6 per cent.
Per Incanto is standing his 15th season at stud at Little Avondale this spring for $60,000 (plus GST), up from $50,000 last year.
Eurocanto (2 c Per Incanto – Shespending by Savabeel) is the second foal and first runner for New Zealand mare Shespending (Savabeel), a one-start maiden.
Third dam Splashing Out (O’Reilly) bore two multiple Group winners from five foals: dual New Zealand Group winner Splurge (Savabeel) – Shespending’s three-quarter brother – and dual Melbourne Group winner Shopaholic (Pins).
Sold back across the Tasman at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale of 2023 for $260,000 to Botty’s Bloodstock, while carrying Eurocanto, Shespending now has a yearling colt and a filly foal, both by Farnan (Not A Single Doubt).