Latest News

By Ray Hickson

It’s not often the Epsom Handicap is considered a back-up race but co-trainer Ben Hayes says Saturday week’s Group 1 isn’t the primary reason Rise At Dawn will tackle the Group 3 $250,000 Canadian Club Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.

An exemption from ballot and penalty into the Epsom is there for the winner – Rise At Dawn is equal 31st in the order of entry with 53kg – but Hayes has his sights on the Five Diamonds with the five-year-old.

“He’s in the Epsom and if he was to run well it could be something we’d consider,’’ he said.

“But there’s the Five Diamonds Prelude ($1m on October 25) and the Five Diamonds ($2m two weeks later) for him. The Epsom is there as a back up but we’ll most likely do the Five Diamonds prep.”

Hayes said Rise At Dawn, $4.20 with TAB on Thursday, is so well suited on two fronts it was hard not to be drawn to the Shannon.

The gelding has drawn near the outside but he is a natural on pace runner and Hayes felt the race was devoid of speed, plus the weight scale appealed to him.

“That was the reason we decided to come to Sydney,’’ he said.

Cafe Millenium in a thriller!

Celine Gaudray with one ride for the day and she produces a pearler for Team Hayes 👏👏@lindsayparkrace pic.twitter.com/CqGb5NgaLD

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 13, 2025

Rise At Dawn's first-up run at Flemington on September 13 (Video: 7HorseRacing)

“It’s a race he should be able to cross hopefully not doing too much work. With Gringotts in the race compressing the weight scale he gets in quite nicely with 56.5kg.

“There’s a lot of good horses in it but it looks a nice opportunity for him.”

Rise At Dawn ran fourth in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile in his only Sydney start to date, he led that day and was beaten under half a length by Stefi Magnetica.

He tackled two more Group 1s in the Brisbane winter before resuming with a third over 1400m at Flemington two weeks ago.

“I thought it was great. He was real tough, he kept kicking to the line,’’ he said.

“He was carrying a big weight there. He’s come to Sydney before and run well in a Doncaster and has been on the Sydney leg a few times.

“The horse is in great order and we’re very happy with him.”

Meanwhile, the Lindsay Park team hasn’t given up on Stradbroke winner War Machine earning a slot in the TAB Everest but he’s not due to race until Saturday week – in either the Gilgai Stakes at Flemington or the Premiere Stakes at Randwick.

Three slots remain – Godolphin, Coolmore and Mulberry Racing – and after impressing in a jump out on Thursday morning Hayes said he’s ready to state his case.

“Everybody is waiting for him to step out and race and I can assure them they won’t be disappointed,’’ Hayes said.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Golden Rose meeting at Rosehill