Classy colt Happy Galaxy ended his last campaign with four straight wins but according to trainer Wayne Hawkes has returned this preparation in even better form.

Happy Galaxy is the favourite for the John Monash Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Earlier this year, after recording victories at Canterbury and Rosehill, Happy Galaxy stepped up to listed company to win the Zeditave Stakes (1200m) before defeating a quality field to win the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm.

In a statement that is sure to send shivers up the spines of rival trainers with horses in this Saturday’s Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m), Hawkes told RSN Breakfast that Happy Galaxy is the best he has ever been.

“The whole package has gotten better,” Hawkes said.

“When he came to us he was very revvy and very bouncy but every preparation he has got more and more relaxed.

“His record is pretty good and he is another one of those great three-year-olds that we have had this year who have absolutely dominated the older horses.”

Although Hawkes admits that the son of Nadeem hasn’t reached his peak racing fitness, he believes he will still prove very difficult to beat at Caulfield on Saturday.

“He is going in not wound up but he is certainly going in forward enough to win,” the leading trainer said.

The John Monash Stakes will be the beginning of a lengthy Spring Racing Carnival campaign for Happy Galaxy that Team Hawkes hopes will conclude with a victory in the Group 1 Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m) in December.

Before that he is expected to make his Group 1 racing debut in the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday October 25, which recently received an injection of prizemoney to make it a $1 million race.

Happy Galaxy is a narrow favourite from Mrs Onassis in the John Monash Stakes betting market.