Autumn Carnival star Tommy Berry is confident that Our Boy Malachi has the temperament and the ability to overcome his wide barrier draw in the Group 3 $150,000 Ticketek Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Our Boy Malachi has the ability to overcome a wide barrier draw in the Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Former Queensland sprinter Our Boy Malachi has been undefeated at his three starts with the Hawkes Racing Team and Berry has the job to negotiate the speedster from barrier eleven in the thirteen horse field.
Berry will be having his first race ride on the chestnut but has got a feel of the six year old in a recent barrier trial win over 896m at Rosehill on March 30.
“I’ve done a bit of work on him, I’ve jumped him out a couple of times and trialled him,” Berry wrote in his Sportsman column.
“He is one of those horses that is a pleasure to ride and he is a winner in everything he does.”
“He’s has drawn awkwardly with good speed inside him but I think he one of my better rides.”
“He has great tactical speed.”
Our Boy Malachi has won over 1300m in his home town of Rockhampton and Berry can see the Top Echelon six year old getting that distance and further during his upcoming campaign that could include a trip back to his home state for the Brisbane Winter Carnival.
“He looks as though he can get over a bit further,” Berry wrote.
“I seriously think he’s better than Group 3 grade and is borderline a Group 1 horse but he still has to prove himself up to that grade.”
Our Boy Malachi will be having his first start since scoring a comfortable win in the Listed $100,000 Thoroughbred Breeders NSW Razor Sharp (1200m) at Randwick on December 13 and Ladbrokes.com.au have him as the $2.50 favourite for the Hall Mark Stakes.
Second favourite Craftiness ($5.50) is also stepping up in class after scoring a narrow win as an odds on favourite in an 1050m Doomben Open Handicap on a soft 7 on March 28.
Craftiness’s stablemate Target In Sight is next in the betting at $6.50 following his first up win in the Group 3 $150,000 Smooth FM Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on March 14 and second to Generalife in the Group 3 $150,000 Irresistible Pools & Spas Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 28.
Hall Mark Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.50 Our Boy Malachi, $5.50 Craftiness, $6.50 Target In Sight, $9.50 Vashka, $12 Big Money, $14 Fast ‘N’ Rocking, $18 Charlie Boy, Rock Sturdy, $31 Heart Testa, Rain Affair, $41 Hidden Warrior, $51 Decision Time, Wouldnt It Be Nice.
