Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and J.D. Hayes talked up Arkansaw Kid as potentially the next big thing to come out of their stable. Speaking ahead of Arkansaw Kid’s upcoming run in the Listed Chautauqua Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley this Saturday, Ben Hayes says the gelding is as good a sprinter as he has ever seen at Lindsay Park.
Hayes also says that Arkansaw Kid could be in the running for a place in The Everest this October.
Lindsay Park training team eyeing The Everest for Arkansaw Kid

Arkansaw Kid could run at The Everest says Lindsay Park trainers
Highlights
- Arkansaw Kid was gelded this winter.
- Hayes says Arkansaw Kid is his best sprinter since Vega Magic.
- Arkansaw Kid won his first race as a gelding last month.
Arkansaw Kid is “electric”
Rising five-year-old Arkansaw Kid is a name horse racing betting fans should be keeping an eye on, according to his trainer Ben Hayes. The Lindsay Park man says the gelding is in good form after the stable decided to geld him during the 2023/24 season.
“It was a big call to geld him, but we really felt he wasn’t being 100% genuine when he was going to the races and being a bit of a thinker.
“At home he’s an electric worker and if he starts converting that to the sprint trips, he’s a genuine horse that Everest slot holders should be looking at,” Hayes said.
“As good as Vega Magic”
While Ben Hayes is bullish on Arkansaw Kid’s The Everest chances, most betting sites do not even list him as a potential runner.
If Hayes is right though, that could change soon. The Lindsay Park trainer says Arkansaw Kid is one of the best sprinters he has ever seen.
“We’ve had a few good sprinters in my time, and he’s as good as them.” Hayes explained.
“He’s very sharp, he comes up the hill like Vega Magic and those types of horses (did). He’s been our best horse for The Everest since Vega.”
Vega Magic won multiple Group 1 races for Lindsay Park before being retired, so this massively-high praise from Hayes for Arkansaw Kid. Whether the gelding lives up to the hype is still up in the air.
Arkansaw Kid next races
We’ll get to see if Arkansaw Kid is the real deal this weekend at Moonee Valley.
The gelding is set to run in the Listed Chautauqua Stakes on Saturday. If this race goes well, Hayes says Arkansaw Kid could try his luck at the Group 1 level again for the first time since June.
“If he (Arkansaw Kid) was to win at The Valley, we could consider the (Group 1) Manikato Stakes, which is in three weeks’ time,” Hayes explained.
“It’s (the Chautauqua Stakes is) a great lead up, and there is also the option, if the Manikato was looking ridiculously strong, (that) we could wait and run him down the straight in the Bobbie Lewis Stakes at Flemington.
“It’s all about placement and he gets in a lot better in the weights on Saturday. He had 58 (kg) last week and he’s got 55 this week, so it was pretty much a no-brainer for us.”
More Horse Racing News

Amelia’s Jewel retired, added to Inglis Chairman’s Sale slate
Amelia Park Racing and Breeding has announced that Amelia’s Jewel has been retired. The mare finished fifth in the Queen of the Turf Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. She won 10 stakes races in her career and a Group 1 race.

Mr Brightside ready for Hong Kong trip after successful Flemington trial
Nine-time Group 1 winner Mr Brightside put in a strong run in a jump-out at Flemington on Friday ahead of his trip to Hong Kong this autumn. The Lindsay Park-trained gelding is set to fly out on Monday to prepare for the Champions Mile.

Steve Wolfe says Rope Them In can go for The Quokka after Roma Cup
Steve Wolfe is already looking past the Roma Cup on Saturday. The trainer says that he expects his gelding Rope Them In to do well in the Roma Cup and that he could contend in The Quokka on April 26th at Ascot.

Waller’s Aeliana dominates Australian Derby field at Randwick
Aeliana has won the 2025 Group 1 Australian Derby at Royal Randwick Racecourse. The Chris Waller-trained filly dominated the competition, beating out Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald’s Firm Agreement and Ciaron Maher’s Shanwah by more than five lengths.

Jockey Poy handed 13-year ban by Racing Victoria for betting offences
A Racing Victoria judge has handed down a 13-year ban from horse racing to former jockey Michael Poy for his role in an illegal betting scheme. Poy’s betting offences were discovered eleven months ago as a part of a Racing Vic investigation.

'Easiest horse in the world' Dubai Honour stays unbeaten in Australia
After winning the Group 1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday, Dubai Honour and William Haggas are eyeing a Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes win for the seven-year-old gelding. Dubai Honour has not ever lost a Group 1 race in Australia.
I am an avid horse racing enthusiast and punter. Growing up in Randwick, I have been surrounded by racing through stories from the elderly’s past endeavours to the racecourse and owners that are friends of the family. I am also a data-scientist and am fascinated and intrigued by the algorithmic approach to form. I’ve has become more involved with racing over the past few years due to simultaneously delving deeper into the sport and learning how to apply a data driven approach to punting. Beyond Racing, I am an avid NRL fan and MMA fan, the latter of which I have largely applied the same philosophy of methodical, data driven punting towards and found solid success in the MMA space and I continue to track and improve my strategies.