Wakeful duo out to break run of outs

It's been a long time between drinks for the Lindsay Park team since their latest win in the Wakeful Stakes on Howden Victoria Derby Day at Flemington. 

Lolita Star was the last winner for Lindsay Park in 2000 when the late Peter Hayes was in charge of the large training operation. 

The Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday has long been regarded the best lead up to the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) on Thursday week and recent Cox Plate placegetter Treasurethe Moment completed the double last year. 

Lindsay Park won the Oaks in 2020 with Personal who had finished a close second to Victoria Quay in the Wakeful when prepared by Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes. 

Now with Ben, Will and J D Hayes at the helm, the Lindsay Park team will be looking to Ethereum Girl or Perfect Night breaking their long run of outs in the Group 2 contest on Saturday. 

Ethereum Girl, a daughter of Maurice, has had two runs back from a break after winning at Stakes level in Adelaide in July. 

She was a close-up fourth in the Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Sandown on September 27 before running eighth in the Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 18. 

Ben Hayes set the race set-up, that favoured those on-speed, did not suit Ethereum Girl last start. 

"She was only second up into the Thousand Guineas and that race shape probably didn't suit her when they walked and sprinted home," Hayes said. 

"She's stepping up to the 2000 (metres). She's third up now and we've always wanted to get her out in trip, so we're looking forward to seeing how she goes. 

"She galloped here (Flemington) this morning. She was good, she had a good look around and just floated over the last 200 metres. 

"If she's able to run well, or win, then we would definitely consider the Oaks." 

Nominations for the Victoria Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 6 close on Friday and Hayes said both Ethereum Girl and Perfect Night would be entered for the race. 

Perfect Night has been placed just once in her four starts, nosed out in maiden grade at Geelong two starts back, before running an unlucky fifth at Bendigo last time. 

"She's a maiden filly that is needing ground and at her last start was desperately unlucky," Hayes said. 

"She does look like she's needing the 2000 (metres), so we thought we'd have a throw at the stumps with her."