Deep Field is currently on top of 2015 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes betting markets, but co-trainer Wayne Hawkes admits that the undefeated sprinter will not have an easy task when he makes his Group 1 debut at Flemington on Saturday.
Team Hawkes hopes that jockey James Winks will have his rivals in the rearview mirror in the 2015 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Deep Field has recorded five wins from as many race starts since making his racing debut with a ten length romp at Gosford in June last year and he never looked like being beaten at his next three starts before he scored a maiden win at Group level in the Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby.
Bookmakers currently have Deep Field at Black Caviar Lightning Stakes odds of $2.30, but Hawkes told RSN this morning that the son of Northern Meteor would need to perform at his very best to defeat the likes of Lankan Rupee and Brazen Beau in the $500,000 race.
“We are under no illusions, it is not going to be an easy race and we are going to have to work for it,” Hawkes said.
“Lankan Rupee has won ten races, $3.5 million and he is a proper Group 1 horse.
“Being champion sprinter of the world it is no easy tag to go and get.
“We are just a boy heading into the deep end for the first time and we are mindful and respectful of all those issues.”
Regular jockey Dwayne Dunn failed to have his eight race meeting suspension for careless riding shortened on appeal yesterday and Team Hawkes booked James Winks to take the ride.
With only six horses in the 2015 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes field, Hawkes is expecting it to be a tactical affair, but he said that he will be instructing Winks to ride his own race and not worry about what his opposition will be doing in the early stages of the race.
“He just has to go out there and ride his own race,” Hawkes said.
“Dean Binaisse has already said that Fab (Fevola) only knows one way and that is to go forward and attack.
“Lankan Rupee goes forward and away he goes and our bloke is an on-pacer as well.
“There won’t be too many sitting off them.
“It is not going to be an race because sometimes small fields you can get stuffed up because we are expecting this pace to go lickity split, but how many times have you seen up the straight at Flemington that they just trot, walk and canter and sprint for home.
“That happens often at Flemington.
“It is going to be a great race.”
Deep Field ($2.30) is currently a narrow favourite in the 2015 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes with Ladbrokes from Lankan Rupee ($2.40), Brazen Beau ($5), The Quarterback ($26), Watermans Bay ($34) and Fab Fevola ($101).
