Hawkesbury Guineas romp catapults Skyhook into Stradbroke Handicap picture
The classy Skyhook demonstrated his superiority and thrust himself into Stradbroke Handicap contention with an impressive lead-all-the-way triumph in Saturday's Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) at Hawkesbury.
Jockey Josh Parr flawlessly implemented the tactics set by trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, as the striking chestnut controlled the race wire-to-wire for a comfortable Guineas victory.
"When Sterling and I were doing the form on the race on Thursday, we noticed there wasn't a lot of early speed," Ryan said.
"So, we decided to lead and take bad luck out of the equation. He won the Pago Pago Stakes last season when he led so we told Josh to ride him like the best horse in the race.
"Josh, who first rode for me 20 years ago, did everything right on Skyhook, it was a very good ride.
"It's funny because a number of other jockeys knocked back the ride on Skyhook but when I saw Josh on a winner at Randwick last Saturday, I asked him to ride the colt – and I'm glad I did!"
Skyhook, sent out at $3.40, shrugged off his 58kg impost to score by 1.5 lengths from $18 shot Burma Star, with $41 outsider Wootton Lass just a half-length adrift in third position.
Favourite Regal Award shortened to $2.70 but could never quicken effectively, settling for fifth place.
This strong comeback performance instils optimism in Ryan and Alexiou to chase elite goals with the gifted three-year-old through Brisbane's autumn-winter carnival.
The trainer revealed plans to eye the Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) over 1400m at Eagle Farm on June 13 for Skyhook.
"Skyhook is a well-bred colt so you have to look at Group 1 options like the Doomben 10,000 (May 16)," Ryan said.
"But I believe this horse likes his races spaced and we might look at something like the (Group 3 $300,000) Fred Best Classic (1400m, Eagle Farm, May 30). If he wins that race, then he gets into the Stradbroke field."
In the wake of his win, Skyhook shortened to $15 in Stradbroke betting, sitting fourth behind $6 elect Angel Capital.
Top online bookmakers are offering strong betting markets for the race featuring Skyhook's Stradbroke prospects.
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