Trainer Peter Didham was studying race programmes today trying to plot the best path for exciting stayer Fabian Hawk.
But he knows the phone will start ringing again after the four-year-old’s all-the-way romp at Awapuni on Saturday, his third win from only seven starts.
“We had a couple of inquiries to buy him after his last win and I expect they’ll be back,” said Didham, the horse having proved his seven length win was no fluke because of loose conditions.
Fabian Hawk answered any queries the buyers might have had when, in tricky holding conditions yesterday, rider Johnathan Parkes took control from the start and never looked like being caught, scoring untested by one and a quarter lengths over Quota, who had her chance to run him down.
“Parkes said he had a bit left at the finish too – he was just cruising.
“It was a beautiful ride,” said Didham, explaining the tactic had been to go strongly early so his rivals would leave him alone.
“He pulled a bit in his first start over ground but he was happy in front yesterday, even when he slowed them right down.
Fabian Hawk is cruising at the line, clear of Quota. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.“Every time he clicked him up or gave him a slap he went quicker. And he just pricked his ears and went to the line.”
Parkes rated Fabian Hawk well above average and definite open company material, prompting Didham to start a thorough investigation of how best to maximise the horse’s earnings from now on.
“We’ll see how many points we get for winning first then make a plan. He may have a wee break now or have one more race in open class.”
But Didham said he was keen to see where any extra stakemoney from the TAB’s Entain deal would go before he took on an open class race worth only $35,000.
“We don’t want to skyrocket up the weights for not much money when the staying races over in Australia are worth so much money.
“We can’t take the Aussies on in their two and three-year-old races but their horses can’t stay. This horse stay all day and I’m sure he’d do a really good job in Sydney or Melbourne. And you’d know with him that if they got any rain it wouldn’t hurt his chances.”
Didham said he’s confident Fabian Hawk isn’t just a wet tracker and with the way our tracks are watered these days he could strike easy or soft ground even in the middle of summer.
“I think he’ll have a longer racing life with the tracks we get now. He’s a lovely horse now but he’s still six months away physically, he’s been slow maturing.
“I’ll give him a couple or three days in the paddock before deciding where we go. He’s pulled up well and eaten up but we don’t want to over-race him, we’re taking our time with him.
“We’re not getting carried away – he didn’t beat any champions yesterday – but getting a form line like 1411 isn’t easy to do when you’re up in the weights coming through the grades.
“We’ll have some fun with him,” said Didham who races the Turn Me Loose – Shi Kin Fly gelding with Wellfield Stud’s Bill Gleeson and Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street and Ian Middleton.
“Bill and John and Ian are such good owners they deserve all the success they have. And if he was sold to Australia we’d like to keep a share in him.”