Flemington straight test for Fire

Team Hawkes last won a Doncaster Mile with Brutal four years ago and Michael Hawkes reckon they have a shot at repeating the dose with sprinter-miler Bandersnatch. The under-rated gelding secured his spot in next weekend's elite field with victory in the Doncaster Prelude (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday and given he drops 5.5kg to 51kg in the…

A decision to ride Zeyrek quietly despite a lack of obvious tempo has reaped rewards for Team Hawkes with the gelding charging home to win the Craven Plate at Randwick. Disappointed to see him settle midfield and wide in the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) last start, co-trainer Michael Hawkes gave Tyler Schiller strict instructions to let Zeyrek…

Wategos made it back-to-back wins with a bold all-the-way win at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images Just seconds before the All Blacks stole another famous Bledisloe Cup win, a pair of Kiwis products were playing a starring role at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Kiwi-born trainer Bjorn Baker and compatriot Jason Collett hit the target as…

Hall of Fame trainer John Hawkes can mastermind a form resurgence, play the role of giant-killer and preserve an unbeaten record with his stable runners in crucial races across three states on Saturday. Hawkes has a number of starters at his home track of Rosehill Gardens including topweight Mount Popa in the Listed $160000 Lord Mayor's…

Zeyrek earned his shot at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes after winning the Neville Sellwood Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images Zeyrek or Alenquer could provide high-profile owner Rupert Legh with another Queen Elizabeth Stakes boilover at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Legh won the race previously with Sarerra who scored the biggest upset in the…

Team Hawkes don't have a Group 1 runner but the stable can still make a real impact on the final day of the Golden Slipper Festival at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Zeyrek can get the Hawkes stable away to a winning start when he contests the Group 3 $200000 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m). TAB Fixed Odds price assessors have installed Zeyrek as…

Strength could matter more than speed at the end of Friday night's Group 1 William Reid Stakes at The Valley. The Valley night racing season will conclude with an open edition of the William Reid Stakes in which the Kiwi mare Imperatriz is the $3.40 favourite with TAB. Australia Stakes winner Jigsaw sits on the second line of betting with Sydney…

Sam Clipperton, left, will ride Mazu for the 12th time this weekend for Peter and Paul Snowden. Picture Getty Images Top class Sydney sprinter Mazu gets his chance to win one of Melbourne's sprinting features in Saturday's $1.5 million group one Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. Mazu makes his Victorian debut against 15 rivals in the 1200 metre…

News Corp form analyst Brad Waters takes an early look at Saturday's Newmarket Handicap meeting at Flemington. BEST BET BARB RAIDER (Race 5, No.3) Barb Raider raced on the speed and only faded late when resuming at Sandown. She'll be much fitter for that and loves 1600m and Flemington. VALUE BET ROCH'N' HORSE (Race 7, No.4) Roch'N' Horse won last…

Michael Hawkes believes his stable has done everything possible to have Electric Girl ready to compete well in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick. But like all his runners in Sydney and Melbourne on Saturday, Hawkes - in partnership with father John and brother Wayne - is hoping her talent will be enough for her to prevail in a difficult field. A…

Team Hawkes must be hoping its run of bad luck this spring carnival is behind them going into the $10m Golden Eagle meeting at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. The Hawkes stable has had some frustrating feature race near misses with their runners finishing second in big money races the Silver Eagle, The Invitation, Theo Marks Stakes and Golden…

Hall of Fame trainer John Hawkes concedes there is no certainty even a proven wet-tracker like Mr Mozart will handle the extremely heavy conditions at Royal Randwick on Saturday. "When the track gets to a Heavy 10, then you can't say with any confidence if a horse will get through the going," Hawkes said. "Even those horses like Mr Mozart, who…

Foujita San will run in the Caulfield Guineas on Saturday. Picture Getty Images The powerful Hawkes training operation will closely monitor weather patterns in Melbourne and Sydney over the next 24 hours before making final decisions regarding its runners at Caulfield and Randwick on Saturday. Caulfield was rated a good 3 while Randwick had a heavy…

Trainer Clayton Douglas is pinching himself on the news that Giga Kick will line up in The Everest Connections of smart three-year-old Giga Kick have leapt at the opportunity to compete in the $15 million The Everest at Randwick instead of sticking to more familiar scenes in Melbourne. A deal completed overnight saw James Harron select Saturday's…

After a disappointing opening to his spring campaign, Semillion gets another chance at The Valley Wayne Hawkes is hopeful a return to the short course at Moonee Valley will bring out an improved showing from three-year-old Semillion. The Hawkes Racing-trained sprinter was successful on debut at Moonee Valley on soft ground and may have similar…

David'Gator' Gately has the game plan for this Saturday's action with the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap the highlight on'Super Saturday' Raceday at Flemington. The Victoria Racing Club are hoping for a big crowd with the Group 1 Australian Cup the other highlight. Eight of the nine races are Group or Listed races on an excellent undercard. The…

Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden are keen for Cythera to enhance her reputation and Ebhaar to restore hers when they clash in the Group 2 $250000 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Cythera is out to prove she is a legitimate Golden Slipper contender after making a winning start to her race career with a tough effort to…

John Hawkes was only a schoolboy when the mighty Tulloch won in Adelaide but he remembers the race like it was yesterday. "I was 12 years old when I saw Tulloch,'' Hawkes said. "It was at the old Cheltenham track and the place was jam-packed. "It was a long time ago but you don't forget those days.'' Tulloch was nearing the end of his magnificent…