Group 1 placegetter Dibayani is on track to make his Australian racing debut in the 2015 P.B. Lawrence Stakes after he finished fourth in a jump out over 800 metres at Flemington this morning.
Dibayani trialed alongside stablemate Extra Zero (pictured) in a jump out at Flemington this morning. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Dibayani was settled just behind the leaders in the early stages of the jump out and he was kept under a heavy hold throughout, but he was still able to find the line nicely to finish third behind Godolphin-owned Etymology.
Dabernig told Racing.com that he was happy with the barrier trial effort of Dibayani and he said that the Shamardal entre would have another jump out next week before he returns to racing in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 15.
“Today was just a conditional trial and we will trial him again next Friday and he can have a stronger one,” Dabernig said.
“Then he will be pretty much ready to go to the races.
“We will probably look to kick him off somewhere in mid-August.
“We don’t have any real set plan with him and we will just take it once race at a time, but if he can hold his form or slightly improve he will be racing at the right time of the season.”
Dibayani started his racing career in Ireland, but he was purchased by Hong Kong-based connections after he beat Count Of Limonade to take out the Listed King George V Cup (2213m) at Leopardstown on June 7.
The five-year-old was unable to record a race win during his six starts in Hong Kong, but he finished third behind Able Friend and Designs On Rome in the Group 1 Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on January 19 last year and he was third behind the same duo in the Group 1 Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on March 16 before he finished second behind Blazing Speed in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) on May 25.
Dabernig said that Dibayani had some issues with bleeding during his racing career in Hong Kong, but the Lindsay Park team are confident that he is over these problems and can be competitive at the highest level of racing during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival.
“He looks a lovely horse and we have been really quite taken by him since we have had him at the farm,” Dabernig said.
“I think that he has really appreciated being back and getting out in a paddock and the Australian way of training seems to be really suiting him.
“He had a little issue with some bleeding in Hong Kong, which is quite common in Hong Kong and it doesn’t always translate to here in Australia.
“He has been cleared now by the stewards to race here and hopefully we can get him right and he can have a good spring.”
Dibayani is likely to be included in the nominations for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
