Three-year-old filly Bold Bastille to tackle older sprinters in Listed Carlyon Stakes at The Valley

The Moonee Valley Racing Club decided to bring forward the Group 1 Moir Stakes to September 7 and the Manikato Stakes to September 24 in a bid to attract the nation’s best sprinters on their way to The Everest.

Saturday’s Carlyon Stakes will serve as a lead-up race two weeks out from the Moir Stakes, making it the perfect opportunity for trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes to evaluate Bold Bastille’s readiness to take on older sprinters at the highest level.

“With the race (Moir Stakes) changing dates, I think it gives us a very good opportunity so it will be an interesting race in the Carlyon Stakes,” Ben Hayes said.

“That will give us an idea of whether to target the Moir or go back to three-year-olds.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a couple of three-year-olds in the race (the Carlyon Stakes) kicking off their campaigns.”

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Bold Bastille enjoyed an outstanding two-year-old season in which she earned almost $700,000 with four wins in five starts, including twice at stakes level.

Illness prevented the Hayes brothers from preparing the Brazen Beau filly for the Blue Diamond Stakes but Bold Bastille won her last three starts last season.

The filly had jumpouts at Caulfield and Flemington, winning her latest outing at Flemington on August 9.

Hayes said the three-year-old had impressed jockey Jamie Kah in her jumpouts while the set weights and penalties format would leave Bold Bastille with a light weight in the Carlyon Stakes.

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“At home, I wouldn’t say she’s an amazing trackworker and she doesn’t leave it on the track,” Hayes said.

“But raceday she’s a different horse.

“I think with the light weight, and at The Valley where she was an impressive winner (on debut), if she draws in, she’s a great chance in a race like that.

“She’s fast out of the gates, does everything right and Jamie Kah loved her trial.

“She said she’s so ‘push-button’.”

Bold Bastille is one of 12 entries for the $175,000 Carlyon Stakes and one of two three-year-olds along with Golden Slipper runner-up Coleman.

Caulfield Guineas winner Griff is the highest-rated entry on 108 while William Reid Stakes runner-up Johnny Rocker is next best on 104.

Originally published as Three-year-old filly Bold Bastille to tackle older sprinters in Listed Carlyon Stakes at The Valley