Legerity continues Hawkes’ run of success
One of the biggest weeks in racing for the Hawkes family has continued at Rosehill with promising two-year-old Legerity.
Chautauqua’s win in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize in Hong Kong last Sunday gave patriarch, Hall of Fame trainer John Hawkes, and his sons and partners Wayne and Michael, their biggest win.
Michael Hawkes was back at the helm of the Rosehill stable during the week, taking Messene to Wagga Wagga to win Friday’s Gold Cup and saddling up Legerity to win Saturday’s 2YO Handicap (1100m).
“From Sha Tin to Wagga to Rosehill, it’s been a big week,” Hawkes said.
“We’ll take the good times while we can because there are plenty of bad times.”
Favourite Legerity ($3.50) lived up to punters expectations to lead all the way under Brenton Avdulla and beat Baltic Whisper ($6) by a half length.
Hawkes said Legerity, raced by his breeder Ron Gilbert, had always shown talent and a large scar on a leg was of more concern to others than his trainers.
“He has a massive scar on his near foreleg from a paddock accident before he came to us,” he said.
“The Melbourne stewards saw it when he raced down there and questioned us.
“We brought him up here and I told (RNSW vet) Craig Suann about it and he watched him trial and was happy with him.
“It just looks awful but doesn’t stop him running. He has above average ability.”
Hawkes said there were upcoming options during the Brisbane winter carnival and he and the rest of the connections would it over in the coming days.