History in the making for David Hayes

Keep The Faith gelding Honey’s Steel Gold will bridge 40 years of history if he can win the G1 Victorian Derby at Flemington on November 2.

Honey’s Steel Gold (2g Keep The Faith – Lunar Lights by Bianconi) will be set for the $1 million classic after staying on strongly in the LR Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at headquarters on Saturday.

Trainer David Hayes has a third Victoria Derby in his sights with Honey’s Steel Gold following Blevic (1994) and Kibbutz (2007).  “He’s the sort you would consider for the Derby,” Lindsay Park foreman Bruno Rouge-Serret told AAP.  “He’s done a very good job and having had a couple of runs at the distance helped.”

Hayes is part of the syndicate that stands Keep The Faith at Greta West Stud.

Keep The Faith was trained out of Lindsay Park to win 4 races in Australia topped by a Listed victory in the Schweppervescence Cup over 1600m at Caulfield.  He transferred to North America and broke their 1200m national record in a sizzling 1.06.82s at Belmont Park.

Honey’s Steel Gold is a homebred for John & Michelle Valmorbida and is the first foal of Lunar Lights.  They raced the dam to win a 2010m maiden at Wangaratta in 8 starts but she was much better than the bare form would suggest.

The Valmorbida owned horses race in their brown and white circle silks.  Michelle’s parents Vic and Lila Peters raced Taj Rossi in the same colours to win the 1973 Victoria Derby.

Taj Rossi dominated the spring carnival that year winning the Ascot Vale Stakes, Moonee Valley Stakes, Cox Plate, Victoria Derby, Emirates Stakes and Sandown Guineas.  “The family have ribbed me about letting down the standard,” Valmorbida joked.  “Another Derby can put an end to that.”

Keep The Faith (Sunday Silence) stands for a $4,400 (inc gst) service fee at Greta West Stud.  He can complete a stakes winning double when his Singapore-based two year-old Mexborough Boy starts in the G3 Juvenile Championship on July 28.

– Karl Patterson

Honey's Steel Gold outer The Bowler rails

HONEY’S STEEL GOLD
Keep The Faith 2Yo ranges up to defeat The Bowler (rails) at Flemington
Photo / AAP