Skyhook primed for Pago Pago Stakes assignment
Co-trainer Sterling Alexiou has acknowledged that Skyhook will need to win Saturday’s Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill to secure a spot in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) back at the course on March 22.
The Written Tycoon colt, who finished a narrow 0.2 lengths behind Rivellino in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m), was unlucky not to win the race, according to Alexiou.
He is hopeful for better luck this weekend.
“If he’d have got that run when it was there, prior to Adam (Hyeronimus on Shaggy) rolling in, I suspect he wins that race nine times out of ten,” Alexiou told Racing NSW.
“For a horse that had had one start leading into that and one trial, he lost his momentum and balance and picked himself up and regained composure and still finished off as well as anything in the race, it augurs well for a handy future.”
“We were hoping going into the Skyline the other day we wouldn’t have to be in the position we are now. He’s a young, inexperienced horse who improves every time he steps out and he’s always shown a good deal of ability.
“I imagine from a decent barrier he’s going to go a long way to getting the run of the race.
“If he can continue to progress as we expect he should be very hard to beat.”
Skyhook is currently the $3.80 second favourite with horse racing bookmakers for Saturday’s Pago Pago Stakes.
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