Jockey Stephen Baster will team up with the Lindsay Park Team of David Hayes and Tom Dabernig when he returns to the saddle at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Stephen Baster will team up again with Tawteen when he makes his return to riding at Moonee Valley. Sarah Ebbett.
Baster hasn’t ridden since winning on Hi Spun at Sale on June 14 and spent the time on the sideline recovering from a groin injury.
Hayes and Dabernig have booked Baster to ride smart filly Haybah in the $80,000 Super Vobis Handicap (1000m) for the three year old fillies and Tawteen who is nominated in two races, the $80,000 BenchMark 90 Handicap (1200m) and the $90,000 Handicap (1000m).
Baster has had success on both fillies and is keen to get to Moonee Valley on Tawteen who has won three times from four starts for him on the tricky track.
Tawteen’s Moonee Valley victories have been over 1000m and 1200m and include a win at Stakes level in the Listed $120,000 Chandler Macleod Crockett Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 24 last year.
Baster has also been aboard Tawteen for her other two wins in a Sandown maiden over 900m and a BenchMark 70 over 1100m at Bendigo.
The Stratum filly was given another test at Stakes level during the Sydney Autumn Carnival but was spelled after finishing eighth to Peeping in the Listed $125,000 The Sebring (1200m) at Rosehill on March 21.
“I think Moonee Valley does suit her but I think she’s very honest and always thereabouts no matter where she races,” Baster told AAP.
“In her last start though in Sydney she missed the kick, which is unusual for her, and that put her on the back foot.”
Haybah is a winner of two of her eight starts and Baster was aboard when the More Than Ready filly won her maiden over 1000m at Ballart in January.
Top Adelaide rider Jason Holder got the nod when Haybah won the Listed $80,000 Cinderella Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville on February 28 but Baster regained the ride when she finished fourteenth to Vancouver in the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 21.
The Super Vobis Handicap for the fillies looks like developing into one of the main attractions for the day with a host of talented fillies set to go around.
Hayes and Dabernig have also nominated last start Geelong winner Classy Chanel and the smart Thurlow is resuming for trainer Robert Smerdon.
Trainer Danny Curran is bringing The Big Dance to town after her maiden win at Bendigo on March 21 and Ciaron Maher will bring Petits Filous back to Moonee Valley after the Street Boss filly scored a six length win there on debut over 1000m on July 15.
John O’Shea has also nominated the well-bred Maternal for Godolphin and will be looking for an improved performance following her last start sixth of nine on a heavy track at Rosehill on July 4.
Maternal is by the top sire Street Cry out of the multiple Group1 winner Divine Madonna.
