After watching Cape Of Good Hope win the Group One Caulfield Stakes, David Hayes is now eagerly awaiting the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups with Constantinople.
Cape Of Good Hope and Constantinople, former members of the Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien team, arrived in Melbourne just over two weeks ago, clearing quarantine at Werribee on Saturday morning.
A few hours later, Cape Of Good Hope won the Caulfield Stakes (2000m).
Originally Hayes, who trains in partnership with his son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig, wanted Constantinople to gallop at Caulfield on Saturday with Rostropovich, but instead the pair worked on the course proper at Flemington.
Hayes said Constantinople got off the float, had a short walk, was then saddled and worked in strong fashion with his elder stablemate.
“I thought Rostropovich had him slightly covered but he had never seen Flemington and had come straight from quarantine,” Hayes said.
“I thought he did a great job and what I was impressed with was how long they took to pull up after the work.
“I was watching after the line that after doing his work he didn't stop at the 2000 metres, because if he had done that he's either very lazy or unfit.”
Constantinople is among nominations for Wednesday's Coongy Cup (2000m), but Hayes said that was a back-up in case he thougth he needed a race.
“I was worried at one stage about his fitness, but I'm not worried now,” Hayes said.
“My attitude is I'm not going to do too much more with him. I'll trust him, and if that works fresh, I'll keep him fresh and if it doesn't I'll give him some more work.
“I'm happy with his fitness level for the Caulfield Cup.”
Hayes said Rostropivich, also a former O'Brien galloper, was spot-on for Saturday's Caulfield Cup.
Rostropovich has had two starts for Lindsay Park, finishing seventh in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington before running ninth behind Kings Will Dream in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on October 5.
“His work has been good and I think we just made a little mistake with him last time,” Hayes said.