WAR MACHINE FIRES UP. SIGHTS NOW FULLY FOCUSSED ON THE STRADBROKE

By Graham Potter | Saturday, May 24, 2025

He might have experienced a bit of a multi-stable tour with just a dozen career starts behind his name to date, but the four-year-old gelding War Machine will line up for the Ben, Will and J D Hayes stable when he contests the $3 million Stradbroke on June 14.

The son of Harry Angel proved far too strong for his opposition in the Group 3 BRC Sprint at Doomben, an important win as not only did it see War Machine put his first group race victory on the board … and bolster War his prize-money coffers to the tune of $174 000 … but it also gave the horse a ballot-free entry into the Stradbroke, Queensland’s rich, signature race.

The Hayes stable is effectively the fourth stable to take charge of War Machine and he now boast a perfect two wins from two starts for his new stable.

The son of Harry Angel originally raced with some success for the late Michael Moroney early in his career winning three races on the trot in his first five starts, including the Bendigo Guineas where he kept Elphinstone, who went on to win the Listed C S Hayes Stakes at Morphettville in March. back in second place.

He then had a further four starts under the banner of the Michael Moroney, Glen Thompson training partnership with a run of results which included a second place in the Group 3 Silver Eagle, an unplaced finish in the $10 million Golden Eagle and another unplaced run when taking a shot all the way up to Group 1 company in the Rupert Clarke.

War Machine had just one more run for Glen Thompson, then training in his own right, for a second place in the Listed Hareeba stakes at Mornington before transferring to the Hayes yard where he found immediate success.

J D Hayes was justifiably pleased with War Machine’s winning performance in the BRC Sprint.

“That was an unbelievable effort by the horse. We’ve only had him a short time. He came in incredible condition from Ballymore and we’ve been very lucky to inherit him,” said J D Hayes post-race.

“It looked like we’d get a beautiful run from the barrier and he’d let down well, which he did. He had his ears pricked on the line and we’re really looking forward to the Stradbroke.

“He’s a lovely, calm animal and a real professional. That was only his twelfth start and he’s on the way up.

Extremely excited to see what we can do in the next couple of weeks and in the spring.”

Jockey Blake Shinn offered a positive opinion of the win.

“He’s a lovely horse. I had a little bit to do with him when Mike Moroney trained him and he did a great job nurturing him in his early days.,” said Shinn.

“The Hayes boys are the beneficiary of that.

“It is great to win on him and hopefully that paves the way to the Straddy. We always thought he had Group 1 ability.”

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