The Rockhampton Rocket Our Boy Malachi will return to Queensland for the Stradbroke Handicap after winning the Group 3 $150,000 Ticketek Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick today.
Our Boy Malachi scores an impressive win in the Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
The former Queensland sprinter now under the care of the Hawkes Racing Team at Rosehill took his winning tally for the Hawkes to four from four and his overall record to seventeen wins from nineteen starts.
Co trainer Michael Hawkes said that Our Boy Malachi will head back to the Sunshine State for the Brisbane Winter Carnival and chase a Group 1 treble in the $500,000 BTC Cup (1200m), the $750,000 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10000 (1350m) and the $2m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben.
“When we first got him we knew we had something because horses just don’t win thirteen races,” Hawkes said.
“To do what he has done last prep and he had to take the rise today, he was under siege and he was. Good horses find.
“We had him wound up enough for today but he has a long way to go. He is a serious galloper.”
Winning jockey Tommy Berry had Our Boy Malachi travelling in second and third sport beside Craftiness behind the leader Rain Affair who set up a good tempo when Steven Arnold let him run along in front.
Rain Affair still had a handy break at the top of the rise but found wanting over the concluding stages when Our Boy Malachi and Craftiness made their challenges.
Our Boy Malachi ($2.50 favourite) was able to move away on the post to win by a length from Craftiness ($8) with Hidden Warrior ($71) running home for third one and quarter lengths back.
