Post-race analysis of Samovare's last two runs convinced her co-trainers to have a crack at gaining a Caulfield Cup berth in Sunday's Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.
Samovare was a good winner in Benchmark 84 company at Moonee Valley before chasing home her dominant stablemate Harlem in last Saturday's Group III Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.
Hayes, who trains Samovare in partnership with his son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig, said the professional race analysts he uses suggested the Underwood Stakes was a possibility for the mare.
Hayes said Harlem's impressive Naturalism Stakes win showed the import was up to better races.
"I got that race rated and it rated like she was beaten by a weight-for-age horse," Hayes said.
"So we are going to go the weight-for-age route into the Caulfield Cup."
Hayes said Samovare's Moonee Valley success two runs back also rated well compared to Bonneval's victory in the Group II Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) in the same day.
Bonneval will be one of Samovare's eight rivals in the Underwood Stakes.
"That race rated very similar to the Dato winner (Bonneval) and that tells me that she's worth having a crack at the Dato winner healthy and well," Hayes said.
Gaining a Caulfield Cup berth is one of the main reasons, aside from the $750,000 prizemoney, for sending Samovare up against the likes of Hartnell and Black Heart Bart.
Samovare is well down the order of entry in equal 47thspot but an Underwood Stakes win would also earn her a ballot exemption.
"If she wins the Underwood, we wouldn't run her again because she's guaranteed a start and there's no penalty," Hayes said.
"We give away few (ratings) points because she's running at weight-for-age but because she's a mare, if she runs a Group I place or wins, I don't care about that because then she's worth millions.
"It's a $750,000 race and with nine runners in it. They are good fun to run in when they are in form."
Damian Lane will ride Samovare, who has firmed from $26 to $23 in Sportsbet's Underwood Stakes market.
Hayes will also run He's Our Rokkii in the Underwood Stakes instead of the Epsom Handicap in Sydney on Saturday.
Damian Lane will ride Samovare, who has firmed from $26 to $23 in Sportsbet's Underwood Stakes market.
