Like big bro Lincoln King, Fabian Hawk is showing he could one day fly over ground

Fabian Hawk has a way to go before he’s as good as his half brother Lincoln King but trainer Peter Didham is expecting a bold run at Wanganui on Thursday.

Just five days after Lincoln King rattled into third in the Avondale Cup, and right into contention for next month’s Auckland Cup, basically the same ownership group is excited about seeing their four-year-old resume after a recent trial win.

Racing in the same colours of Bill Gleeson’s Wellfield Lodge, and also raced by Didham, Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street and Ian Middleton, Fabian Hawk has been taken along very patiently.

But the pay-off with the Turn Me Loose - Shi Kin Fly gelding started at Awapuni nine days ago when he won a 1200 metre trial as he liked in the hands of top rider Lisa Allpress.

Peter Didham … Fabian Hawk trialled really nicely.“Lisa had him cruising along on a fast pace and he picked them up when he wanted to. He used to be too hard on the bridle, then battle, but he was nice and relaxed for Lisa who was really happy with the run.

“He’s got really nice ability and will be there for a long way in the first half of the field, but he might just be found wanting the last bit.

“There are a couple of handy ones against him, including Guy Lowry’s Diva Dynasty, who is hard fit and should win. Fresh-up over a mile, I’d be over the moon if we could run second to fifth.”

Didham sees plenty of similarities between Fabian Hawk and Lincoln King whom he also educated before he was sent north to Stephen Marsh at Cambridge.

“He has a similar frame as Lincoln King, just a bit taller and narrower. And they both want distance.

“He’ll have to improve to be as good as Lincoln King (the winner of six races and $362,000). He has been a bit finicky with his feed but he’s starting to do better eating, and in his work.”

Didham said while the team was disappointed in the gelding’s debut at Hastings about 12 months ago, when he beat only two home, rider Robbie Hannam reported he simply didn’t know what he was doing.

When he next stepped out, on a heavy 10 track at Woodville last August, he showed more what they’d been expecting.

“He ran fourth but should have been in the first three. He was held up at a crucial stage and hit the line really nicely.”

Clocked over his last 400 metres in 24.79, the fastest in the field, he got within 1.8 lengths of the winner She’s Miss Gevious.

The Wanganui track was rated a soft 5 today and even with 14mm of rain predicted before start time, Didham says the horse should have no trouble coping with the ground.

“He’s racing in the autumn for that reason. He’ll run no matter what the conditions. I’m not saying he likes it heavy but anything with a cut in the track, from a soft 5 to a low heavy, is fine.”

If Fabian Hawk peaks on his run on Thursday, Didham is quite happy to give him another race over 1600 metres before stepping him up to a middle distance.

“We’ve been so patient with him it makes no sense to rush him now. But when he does get over ground, he’ll race in the first two or three.”