Sun Flash set to give Hawkes back to back wins in Inglis Nursery

First starter Sun Flash could provide Team Hawkes with back to back wins in the $250,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Mossfun above winning the 2013 Inglis Nursery for Team Hawkes. Photo by Steve Hart.

Mossfun above winning the 2013 Inglis Nursery for Team Hawkes. Photo by Steve Hart.

John, Wayne and Michael Hawkes put the polish on last year’s Inglis Nursey winner Mossfun before she went on to win the 2014 Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill four starts later.

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes said that Sun Flash has a lot to prove before being put in the same category as his Golden Slipper winner, but the Northern Meteor colt still has plenty of ability and will acquit himself well on the weekend.

“Mossfun was a bit different, she was a ready-made two year old ready to go,” Hawkes told the Sportsman.

“This bloke will improve on whatever he does but he is a nice horse.”

As well as facing the starter for the first time, Sun Flash will have to face a rain affected track with Randwick being rated in the heavy range on Friday morning after receiving 43.2mm of rain over the last seven days.

“It is a soft track at the moment and whether they handle it or not you don’t know until you try it,” Hawkes said.

Sun Flash has had one official barrier trial in preparation for his debut and wasn’t pushed out when fourth over 740m on the Warwick Farm Proride track on Monday morning.

And even though the youngster has shown plenty of promise on the track, Hawkes always likes to see them do it in a race before handing down a final verdict.

“You know what they’ve got but what they do on the track they have to go out and do on raceday,” Hawkes said.

“Trackwork and trials and raceday are different things.”

Sun Flash has been kept safe in the betting and is currently on the third line at $6 at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Inglis Nursery.

The Ron Quinton trained Let’s Make It Rain is at the top of the market order at $4.40 just ahead of the Queensland trained filly Hot Snippety at $4.80.

Trainer Bjorn Baker supplies the next two in the betting with first starters Fashion Model at $8 and Dane Slugger at $9.50.

 

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.