With unmistakable class, Skyhook elevated his credentials for the Stradbroke Handicap through a commanding all-the-way performance in the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) on Saturday at Hawkesbury.
The plan hatched by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou was delivered to perfection by elite jockey Josh Parr, enabling the flashy chestnut to seize control and win the Guineas with ease.
“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 ($3.40) coped admirably with 58kg to prevail by 1.5 lengths from Burma Star ($18) and a neck-and-a-half to Wootton Lass ($41) in third.
Regal Award, backed into $2.70, struggled badly and could only manage fifth.
The victory restores faith for Ryan and Alexiou, who plan ambitious raids for the exciting three-year-old colt in Brisbane’s autumn-winter fixtures.
Consideration will be given to the Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 13 with Skyhook, Ryan noted.
“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.”
Post-race, Skyhook was backed into $15 for the Stradbroke Handicap, in fourth position behind $6 top pick Angel Capital.
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