David Hayes was only at the Werribee quarantine centre on Sunday for a few fleeting minutes but headed home full of confidence that stable star Criterion is on track to add more gloss to his already outstanding record in the coming weeks after an impressive workout.
"He's stretching out brilliantly," Hayes said.
"I think he's going really well."
Criterion has not raced since finishing sixth in the group 1 Juddmonte Stakes at York in August but Hayes believes the horse is on track to give him and training partner Tom Dabernig a second to none chance in the $3 million group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) on October 24.
Champion Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman, who won the Australian Derby on Criterion, made the trip to Werribee to partner the five-year-old and was very happy with his work.
"He felt really good and felt great (over) the last couple of furlongs," Bowman said.
"It's great to be back on him. He's right on track."
Galloping on his own, Criterion worked over 1200 metres in 1.27 and really picked up the speed over the final 400 metres running home in a smart 22.5 seconds.
Bowman is booked to ride Criterion in Saturday's group 1 $400,000 Caulfield Stakes (2000m), a race in which the pair finished second last year, as well as the Cox Plate.
While there will be some stiff opposition from the international raiders in the Cox Plate, Hayes has said he has been buoyed by the fact that many of the weight-for age contests in recent weeks have been won by older horses, with Mourinho winning the Underwood Stakes and fellow eight-year-old Fawkner successful in the Makybe Diva Stakes.
"I've taken a lot of heart from the fact that older horses are winning the big races, so I think it's (the Cox Plate) there to be won this year.
"I think he's the forgotten horse of the spring," said Hayes of Criterion, who is a three-time group 1 winner.
Hayes also rebutted any possible view that Criterion might be facing a task to be at his best for the Cox Plate after competing in England mid year.
"He had two months between runs twice," he said.
"People miss the point with him.
"He's had two runs in six months and a lot of the Aussie horses have three runs in four weeks."
Depending on how Criterion performs in the in the Cox Plate, Hayes said he would give serious consideration to pushing on towards the Melbourne Cup.
Bowman also rode the Michael Freedman-trained Singapore visitor Super One and had a good report for Lee Freedman who was deputising for his brother who arrives in Australia on Monday.
"He gave me a good feel, he's a very fast horse," said Bowman of the son of I Am Invincible, who worked over 800 metres in 54.5 seconds, running his last 400 metres in 22.25s.
Super One – unbeaten in four starts in Singapore – will run in the Apache Cat Classic (1000m) at Cranbourne next Sunday as a lead-in to the $500,000 group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.
Meanwhile trainer, Tony McEvoy has lost his main spring horse, with Alpine Eagle which was pre-post favourite for the Turnbull Stakes on Sunday at Flemington, having to be scratched due to a cracked pedal bone which will require the four-year-old to have a lengthy spell to recuperate.
