Fabian Hawk romps home by seven lengths at Awapuni three weeks ago. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.
Dids ‘over the moon’ with Fabian Hawk - it all comes down to how he cops the sticky track
By Barry Lichter • 9 June 2023
Trainer Peter Didham is “over the moon” with Fabian Hawk’s trackwork in recent weeks and is confident of another good showing at Awapuni on Saturday.
But whether he can replicate his hollow last-start win will come down to how he handles what is predicted to be a very testing, sticky track.
With only 10ml of rain in the last week and fine weather predicted, the Awapuni surface will be a heavy 9 but it will be holding, a complete contrast to the very loose, heavy 10 conditions there on May 20 which saw Fabian Hawk run away from a rating 65 field by seven lengths.
Fabian Hawk ($4.80, $1.85) was so impressive that day he ran the last 600 metres of his 2100 metre event in 39.44, faster than the 39.85 Justaskme clocked in winning the Rangitikei Cup over the shorter distance of 1550 metres.
“I’m hoping he handles it,” Didham said. “He was really good as soon as he struck heavy tracks and he’s quite versatile, I don’t think he’s just a wet-tracker.”
The four-year-old goes up a grade on Saturday to a rating 75 field which includes two northerners, the Shaun Phelan-trained last-start winner Pacheco who carries the same 57kg as Fabian Hawk and David Greene’s Finest Wine, who claims down to 56.5kg.
Didham has resisted the temptation to claim on Fabian Hawk, who drops from 59kg to 57kg anyway, electing to keep senior rider Johnathan Parkes aboard.
“I’m hoping Parkes can trail this time and get him to settle. He was a bit keen last time which is why Parkes took him to the front.”
Didham can see a couple of pacemakers in the field, including the speedy Kingfisher Lad, which will help, and he will rely on Parkes to work out the right tactics from the inside draw and with the short, inside bend in use at Awapuni.
“It’s quite an even field but I’m confident he’ll go well. It’s three weeks since his last run, which is perfect, his work has been really good, and he looks great.
“He’s only had six starts and is untapped but he’s definitely open class material.
“We haven’t put any pressure on him yet. He’s still six months away and will make a lovely five-year-old stayer.”