Old stager Laser Hawk has earned another crack at Group 1 company and will line up in the $400,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Laser Hawk has earned another crack at Group 1 level and will line up in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
The 2012 Rosehill Guineas winner won his first race since beating the three year olds at Group 1 level three years ago when he powered home to win the Group 3 $125,000 Strathayr Newmarket Handicap (1400m) at Newcastle on March 18.
Formerly trained by Gai Waterhouse, Laser Hawk was off the scene for over twelve months because of a leg injury and had his first run for new trainer Joe Pride when eighth to Sweet Idea in the Group 2 $175,000 McGrath Estate Agents Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick at the beginning of the 2014 Spring Carnival.
The Newcastle Newmarket victory was his first win for the Pride stable from five starts and the Warwick Farm trainer says that win will give the six year old gelding plenty of confidence stepping back up to Group 1 company.
“I think that win has given him confidence,’’ Pride told the Herald Sun.
“We have also worked out we can’t have him inside horses, he has to get to the outside and then he gets into his races.’’
Pride said that Laser Hawk has continued to improve since his first up win at Newcastle and was impressed with his fourth in a 1200m Warwick Farm trial on April 10.
“I loved his trial,’’ Pride said.
“He’s a funny, lazy horse but something whipped up around him and the ‘old boy’ said, right, let’s get on with it. He got into battle mode and trialled really well.’’
Melbourne jockey Steven Arnold is the new rider for Laser Hawk taking over from Hugh Bowman who is sticking with stablemate Terravista.
Laser Hawk has drawn barrier seven in the thirteen horse field while Terravista is likely to take up a prominent position from gate two.
Pride’s two All Aged Stakes contenders are at the opposite ends of the market order at Ladbrokes.com.au with Terravista the second favourite at $5.50 while Laser Hawk is one of the outsiders of the field at $41.
All Aged Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3 Chautauqua, $5.50 Terravista, $6.50 Lucky Hussler, $8 Shooting To Win, Wandjina, $10 Dissident, $15 Scissor Kick, $21 Generalife, $26 Rebel Dane, $41 Laser Hawk, Fontelina, $51 Famous Seamus, $61 Weary.
