Melbourne or Randwick? Jacaranda call looms

Inglis Millenium second favourite Jacaranda could stay in Melbourne on Saturday, despite drawing ideally for the $2 million contest at Randwick.

Ben, Will and JD Hayes will wait for the fillies Blue Diamond Prelude barrier draw to confirm if the half-sister to Sixties will head to Sydney where she has gate six for the race restricted to Inglis graduates.

“We will have a jockey for her in next 24 hours up there, but are looking at Caulfield as well, if she drew a gate there,” JD Hayes said.

“She was very good in a three-horse field at Seymour, but there are some advantages by keeping her in Melbourne.”

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Plagiarism was made the $5.50 favourite after a middle draw of gate 10, while Queenslander Star Of Jamaica, from the Munce yard, is also on the second line with Jacaranda, which carries the Coolmore navy blue.

Jacaranda was $11 to $7 after the draw, but would only be able to count Millenium prizemoney to the Golden Slipper if she won it, and then only as a regular Saturday race.

If she stays in Melbourne, the prizemoney would count towards the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper and she would also get some black type.

“We like her a lot and want to get the right decision,” Hayes added.

“We have a good family connection with one of the owners, Paul Shanahan, who is good mates with Dad and it is nice to have a good horse for them.”

The Hayes brothers will send Nervous Witness, a former Group performer in Hong Kong, for his first outing in nearly 18 months.

“He got to a good level in Hong Kong, but hasn’t raced for a while, and it will be good to see him back,” Hayes said. “He is a naturally very fast horse and it is a good starting point for him.”