Hayasugi settled well back in those three Caulfield wins, but on each occasion she produced a booming turn of foot to win by slender margins in the shadows of the post. In fact, the combined margin of those three victories equated to less than half a length, just 0.4L in total, further highlighting that tenacity in a close finish and her incredible will to win. “It was just a preparation where it was faultless the whole way through”, Clinton McDonald said. “Not one single thing went wrong. We got the Diamond and I’ve never been so confident with a horse.” Unfortunately, the dream run didn’t continue in Sydney in Australia’s premier two-year-old race, the Golden Slipper. Hayasugi baulked at the start, nearly unseated Jamie Kah in the saddle, then beelined for the running rail with Kah again lucky to stay on. It was as forgivable and equally as forgettable as trips to the races come, but coming into her three-year-old season Hayasugi is a heavier, more muscular, and more intelligent version of herself, and her recent piece of work at Cranbourne would suggest she’s here to play on Saturday. “Her second trial against Coleman and Pharari was very good. “We asked Jamie to give her a strong hitout, because she’s a filly who does everything with ease. She doesn’t take a lot of effect from a hard workout; she doesn’t come in blowing or sweating. “She’s exactly where we need her to be first up and we’re looking forward to it.” Jamie Kah will again partner Hayasugi at The Valley this Saturday, wasting down to 50kg to ride her under Weight For Age conditions. The 2021 premiership winning jockey says Hayasugi has quickly become one of her favourite horses, even naming her Balli villa after her post the Blue Diamond victory – ‘Villa Sugi’. The villa can be booked online at villasugi.com, but Clinton McDonald will rightly be scheduling a trip free of charge after this spring. “Hopefully I’ll be getting there later this year, and I’ll be enjoying it for free as well.” Hayasugi has drawn barrier 7 in the crack field of nine sprinters in Saturday’s Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes and is currently $12 with Ladbrokes. McDonald says she will improve on whatever she does this week, with 1200 metres of the Manikato likely to suit her better. “We’ll be riding her quiet. It’s not a grand final, but she’s there to win. “She’ll improve (in the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes) because she’ll be getting to a distance that suits her better, which is 1200. With her, all we need is high pressure and she’ll do the rest.”
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