Hayes tips huge spring for McNeil winner

Saturday 31 August 2013, 4:06pm

Fast `n' Rocking shed his maiden tag and set up a shot at Group One spring features in a dramatic finish to the McNeil Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

The David Hayes-trained colt defeated Prince Harada by two lengths with the runner-up striking interference along the inside at a crucial stage in the straight when his jockey Steven Arnold thought the colt was in the middle of launching a winning run.

Hayes said Fast `n' Rocking would head to the Group One Golden Rose in Sydney if he did well in the next few days while the Group One Caulfield Guineas is his main spring mission.

"He's a really exciting colt," Hayes said.

"It was a bit rough and ready late, there might be a couple of hard luck stories in it, but as far as I'm concerned he'll be pretty hard to beat in anything he runs in from now on."

Blue Diamond winner Miracles Of Life was sent out the $2.60 favourite and raced keenly outside the lead before being overrun in the final 200m to finish fourth.

Fast `n' Rocking made his finishing sprint down the outside as Arnold went to take Prince Harada through near the inside.

In a messy finish, Prince Harada was forced to check before pushing through for second, with Thermal Current a half-head away third.

Arnold looked at the stewards footage but didn't protest.

"He's still green and new in the run, but he'll get it," Arnold said. "He's got great ability.

"I thought he was going to be right with the winner (at the finish)."

Miracles Of Life's jockey Lauren Stojakovic said the filly was agitated behind the barriers and raced too fiercely for 1200m.

"At this present time I'm disappointed," she said.

– AAP

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