War Machine wins Group 3 Harry White Stakes at Caulfield

War Machine returned to winning form on Saturday, securing victory in the Group 3 Harry White Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. Ridden by jockey Mark Zahra, the $3.70 shot narrowly defeated the $2.50 favourite, Private Eye, by a head. Hughes finished third, three-quarters of a length behind the leaders.

Trainer Ben Hayes, part of the Lindsay Park training team alongside Will and Jd Hayes, noted that the gelding had faced frustrations over the past year due to track conditions and wide barriers. Hayes expressed satisfaction with the performance, citing the benefit of a class drop and Zahra’s expert navigation through the field.

Following this win, the stable is considering future targets at Flemington during the upcoming Melbourne Cup Carnival, with options to adjust the horse’s racing distance depending on how he recovers.