Rising Romance and Almoonqith represent another Lindsay Park era with Hayes and his nephew Tom Dabernig now co-trainers.
Dabernig is unsure why the BMW is a hoodoo race for the stable.
"We've had a few tries but just haven't been able to get there for whatever reason," he said.
"But we'll keep trying."
This year's runners may not be in the class of Lindsay Park's former greats, but neither is it a vintage BMW field, considering the A$1.5 million on offer.
Rising Romance, who won the 2014 ATC Australian Oaks over the distance, is running into form at the right time. The mare was third behind BMW favourite Preferment in the Australian Cup at her last start.
"She hasn't won for a while and it's her first time in Sydney for us but she has performed there," Dabernig said.
Almoonqith was a victim of a dawdling tempo and finished three lengths from the winner in the Australian Cup.
Dabernig said the run had more merit than it looked because none of the backmarkers made much ground.
"He's getting out to a more suitable trip and you'd have to think he'd be an improved run."
An import by Americain's sire Dynaformer, Almoonqith is making his second trip to Sydney after picking up late for a midfield finish in the Metropolitan. It was the turning point of his spring because he won the Geelong Cup at his next outing and then the Sandown Cup two starts later.
In between, Almoonqith had no chance in a slowly run Melbourne Cup after settling at the tail of the field.
Almoonqith is a $12 chance with Rising Romance at $9.50 in a race which has Preferment the $3.20 favourite ahead of Our Ivanhowe at $4.80, with the latter recovering from a hoof issue. Mongolian Khan is at $5.50 and Who Shot Thebarman is at $8.50.
- AAP
