After a perfect barrier draw, David Hayes can't split Harlem and Ventura Storm as the stayers come to their spring peaks for Saturday's Caulfield Cup.
"I have never had a barrier draw like that," Hayes said. "I was sitting on the lounge laughing as every horse came out I just ticked them off as perfect, perfect, perfect and perfect."
It was like a dream for Hayes as his best chance, Harlem, according to bookmakers, drew barrier one, Boom Time drew three and Ventura Storm barrier four. Even the wide draw for He's Our Rokkii was marked as a positive.
"I was really hopeful that Harlem and Ventura Storm would draw inside eight and they did," Hayes said.
"Providing they beginning well, there will be no reason why they couldn't get a cosy run and I think my two colts are going to be very hard to beat. They have got here in perfect shape."
It completed a measured campaign for Hayes' imports and he will give Harlem the finishing touches by adding the blinkers on Saturday.
The six-year-old struggled for focus at the end of the Bart Cummings, where he was fifth to Amelie's Star.
Hayes believes that run has given him the hard fitness edge he needs for the testing 2400 metres at Caulfield.
"I think he loomed up and knocked up in the Bart Cummings," Hayes said. "It was one of those races that was a gut buster, but he only got beaten a head by the Melbourne Cup favourite.
"They went so hard and he wasn't quite fit enough for that last start. If they run it like that on Saturday he will be fine.
"I have worked him in blinkers since, because when Almandin got on his outside he wasn't happy.
"With the blinkers, he has really responded - he has relaxed and quickened in his work.
"I have been waiting the whole prep for the right time to use the blinkers. I put the winkers on him to qualify him, but I have waiting for the grand final for the blinkers.
"They could be the X-factor."
Harlem drops to 51.5 kilograms and is an $11 chance in the Caulfield Cup as Chad Schofield flys in from Hong Kong to ride the six-year-old, which earned his place with a strong win in the Naturalism Stakes two runs back.
"We had the winkers on there to sharpen him up and to make sure he won his way into the race," Hayes said. "The difference with Ventura Storm was he didn't need to qualify.
"He is very lucky in that way, so there has been no pressure on him until now.
"He has genuinely been peaked for this race and the Melbourne Cup. He will run really well on Saturday and even better in the Melbourne Cup."
Ventura Storm is a $12 chance after being the closest to Winx in her Turnbull Stakes to complete his cups preparation.
Hayes is not counting out outsiders He's Our Rokkii and Boom Time running cheeky races.
"Boom Time should get the right run from three and even though He's Our Rokkii drew 15 he is going back and being ridden dead cold," he said.
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