Hayes family’s Hard week ends on a high

The day after the death of one of the great two-year-olds in Lindsay Park's storied history, the Hayes family unearthed a juvenile who could be destined to be its next top-liner.

All Too Hard gelding Hard Kick launched his career in the best possible way, dominating his rivals in the $175,000 Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m) that kicked off Saturday's Black Caviar Lightning program at Flemington.

The victory came just over 24 hours after former champion filly Miss Finland died at the age of 22, and while J D Hayes conceded Hard Kick has a way to go match the deeds of the 2006 Golden Slipper winner, he was thrilled to see him justify the stable's strong opinion of him.

"What a thrill, he's been very well-educated at home and we thought he was pretty good and he won with authority there," Hayes, who trains in partnership with brothers Ben and Will, said.

"We're not sure he's as good as Miss Finland, but he looked pretty good there."

The Golden Slipper win was one of five Group 1 victories for Miss Finland, who won an Australian Guineas, Thousand Guineas, VRC Oaks and Storm Queen Stakes when trained by David Hayes.

Hard Kick ($3), a $30,000 Adelaide Magic Millions yearling who was subsequent sold for $140,000 at last year's Inglis Ready2Race Sale, showed good speed to lead and kicked strongly when asked to score by 2-3/4 lengths from Zambales in a time of 1:03.90.

Third, 1-3/4 lengths back, was Diameter ($13).

Hard Kick's performance earned big raps from jockey Damian Lane, who had done some of the lead-up work on the youngster and said he might need to reevaluate his opinion of him.

"I thought before today that he was a good horse, but just off the better ones, but off the back of that, he might be right up there," Lane said.

Hard Kick may now be given the chance to do something Miss Finland was unable to achieve with JD Hayes not ruling out a shot at next Saturday's Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes, a race Miss Finland finished second in.

A $55,000 late-entry fee would be required for Hard Kick to take his place in the $2 million event as he was not among the initial nominations.

"We'll keep the option open next week as he did win with head on his chest there, but there's plenty of options going ahead with this horse. It's very exciting," Hayes said.

The Talindert Stakes was part of an early Stakes double for Lane, who two races later led throughout to win the $175,000 Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m) aboard the Danny O'Brien-trained Sass Appeal.