Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes had their eyes on a wet Sydney autumn carnival with their mare Barbie's Fox.
While the opening day of The Championships was wet and last Saturday's meeting was eventually abandoned with two races remaining, Barbie's Fox was unable to strike her preferred wet ground.
The rain that has been falling in Melbourne recently has been music to the ears of the Hayes brothers as Barbie's Fox prepares to run in the VOBIS Gold Mile (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Barbie's Fox last started in Sydney on April 13, the second day of The Championships which produced a good track, while race days either side of her tenth-place finish in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf (1600m) at Randwick had been rain sodden surfaces.
"We were a bit unlucky as she loves wet tracks and every week that she raced in Sydney it wasn't quite wet enough," Ben Hayes said.
"It was heavy either side of her runs, so if a bit more rain comes, it only enhances her chances."
Barbie's Fox has been winless since scoring at Rosehill last July, but Hayes said the seven-year-old mare was racing as well as ever.
He said Barbie's Fox would enjoy the class drop while seeing Pounding as a distinct threat.
"She's dropping from Group 1 company to a VOBIS race," Hayes said.
"She's been racing really well but has been a little unlucky with barriers and getting too far back and hitting the line, so we're hopeful that she can settle closer from this draw.
"I think our best is good enough to win a race like that.
"She came through her run last time very well and I would say it was her best run she put up for the prep. She was only beaten four lengths by Atishu who beat Mr Brightside.
"I think she's in good order. She's fit and when she finds her form, she tends to keep her form."
