Stradbroke Handicap on the agenda for Our Boy Malachi

The 2015 Group 1 $2m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June is high on the agenda for last Saturday’s Randwick winner Our Boy Malachi.

Our Boy Malachi scored a clear cut win in the Razor Sharp at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Our Boy Malachi scored a clear cut win in the Razor Sharp at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

The former Rockhampton trained Our Boy Malachi made it three wins from three starts for the Hawkes Racing Team with a breathtaking victory in the Listed $100,000 Thoroughbred Breeders NSW Razor Sharp (1200m).

Co-trainer John Hawkes said that the ‘Rockhampton Rocket’ would be sent for a spell now and a Brisbane Winter Carnival campaign would be considered.

“All those sort of races are on the cards for him,” Hawkes told TVN.

“He’s having a spell now. We have plenty of time to make up our minds what to do with him.”

“He was really good. He has another step to go to get to the next level, but he’s done all he can do this time.”

“I think he can go to another level next time through, then there’s the real elite level and that’s another level again.”

Hawkes compared Our Boy Malachi with his other emerging sprinters Chautauqua and Deep Field and even though he thinks they have the edge on the Top Echelon gelding, he is not that far behind him.

“The other ones haven’t won at Group 1 level, but they most probably will. This bloke has a little way to go to be catching up to them,” Hawkes said.

At his last start Chautauqua was beaten a neck by Terravista in the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 8 and Deep Field showed his class with a last start one length win in the Group 2 $300,000 tab.com.au Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 1.

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes was also very impressed with the way Our Boy Malachi responded when challenged by runner-up Dothraki in the Razor Sharp Stakes and found another gear for jockey James McDonald to score a comfortable two and a half lengths win.

“He finds under pressure, that’s one of his biggest attributes,” Michael Hawkes said.

“He’s not a young horse but he’s a superstar.”

“The Stradbroke Handicap might be the race for him.”

The Razor Sharp Stakes win was Our Boy Malachi’s sixteenth from eighteen starts and his second at Listed level following his win in the Listed $100,000 Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on November 29.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.