Hawkes filly could Fly Fly into Golden Slipper 2024 calculations
Michael Hawkes is gearing up for a busy afternoon at Rosehill with six stakes runners, headlined by More Secrets in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic.
However, it is the younger brigade that could be the stable’s best chance for a win with Makarena and Airman favourites for the Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) and Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) respectively, while Fly Fly is pushing for top billing in the Magic Night Stakes (1200m).
Fly Fly boasts form around some of the better two-year-olds, finishing fourth to Switzerland on debut in the Pierro Plate and beating all but Gimcrack Stakes winner Manaal in the Sweet Embrace Stakes.
“She was out of her comfort zone here at her first race and she got beaten just over two lengths ….then her run the other day, if she draws a barrier she wins,” Michael Hawkes said.
“I thought she could win on Saturday.”
Fly Fly is out of Dawn Dawn, who Team Hawkes trained to win the 2020 Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes.
She was bred and is raced by that mare’s owners, Pam and Rob Crosby, but wasn’t nominated for the Golden Slipper as she wasn’t on the radar to race early.
“It’s her first ever prep, she has never been out of the system. She went straight to the breakers and came straight to me,” Hawkes said.
“That’s pretty phenomenal really. She was a late bloomer and she is actually not nominated for the Slipper.”
A victory in the Magic Night would prompt a discussion about whether to pay the late entry fee to back up in the Golden Slipper, but Hawkes was loathe to put the cart before the horse.
“We’ll cross that bridge if it happens,” he said.
The team will also have Agenda Setter in the Pago Pago Stakes (1200m), his two recent trials indicating he has returned a more polished horse at his second racing campaign.
Hawkes believes the colt will be better over 1400m but is pleased with his build-up to Saturday.
“He has come back bigger, stronger, better,” Hawkes said.
“It’s a nice starting point. I think the further he gets into his prep, the better he is going to be but he’s not without a cheeky chance.”
Sydney Stakes runner-up Airman resumes in the Maurice McCarten looking to take his first-up record to four wins from five fresh runs, while Makarena arrives at her assignment third-up having split Caballas and Encap in the Eskimo Prince Stakes on resumption and finished a fighting fifth to Tropical Squall in the Surround Stakes.
Hawkes felt an outside gate diminished Makarena’s winning chances last time and hoped for better fortune from barrier nine.
“The winner drew one, she drew thirteen. Swap the barriers and I’m not saying she wins, but she is top three,” Hawkes said of the Surround Stakes result.
“It’s actually quite a tough Phar Lap to be honest, it has come up quite strong.
“But I can’t fault her, she has improved and she is a genuine top-three (chance) again.”
The stable will also have the lightly-raced Groundrush in the Phar Lap Stakes while Group 1 placegetter More Secrets has been specked in the day’s feature, the Coolmore Classic (1500m), and is a $23 chance with aussie betting sites.
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Tony Gollan’s two-year-old Itching To Go in 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Tony Gollan is leaning on a proven strategy as Itchintogo lines up on a seven-day backup in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) this Saturday. The approach has delivered strong results historically, with six winners of the $3 million race following the same path over the past 15 years. Purchased for $60,000...