Showing no signs of his age, Fiumicino has put himself in the frame for the Brisbane Cup with an all-the-way win in the Listed McKell Cup at Randwick.
The nine-year-old took his earnings past $3 million and turned back the clock, reviving memories of his 2007 AJC Derby win over the same 2400m course.
Fiumicino - Photo by Steve Hart
Co-trainer Michael Hawkes said Saturday had been D-day for Fiumicino but his win made the Brisbane Cup a possibility.
“It was D-day. It was retirement day if he didn’t do something,” Hawkes said.
“He had the wet conditions to suit and if he couldn’t win today then we’d have to have thought seriously about retirement.
“At his age that’s always on the cards but if it happens to get wet in Brisbane then of course we look at that.
“But maybe this was it and he will go out on a high.
“He has been a great horse for the stable and I was pretty happy coming here today because he worked so well on Tuesday.
“He still showed that spark and he wanted to race.”
The Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m) is at Eagle Farm in two weeks.
Fiumicino is owned by Nick Moraitis and his 2009 BMW win was a watershed for the partnership of Michael, his brother Wayne and Hall of Fame trainer father John.
It was the first Group One winner for the trio after John Hawkes resigned his position as head trainer for Bob Ingham’s Woodlands operation.
Fiumicino was ridden on Saturday by Jay Ford who backed up for the team to win the LG Mobile Handicap (1400m) on Elfina.
The mare was a $9.50 chance in a race Michael Hawkes thought might pose a problem because of the wet track.
As he did on Fiumicino, Ford took the initiative and steered Elfina to the front and she held off the challenge from Gullible ($4.60) by a short head with Titbit ($10) a further 1-1/4 lengths third.
“Jay is in good form and that was another great ride,” Hawkes said.
“I almost scratched her this morning because of the track.”
The Hawkes team came within a neck of a treble at the meeting when Brian’s Honour just failed to catch Oakfield Commands in the Scream Handicap (1200m).
“We came here with three horses – two wet trackers and one who wasn’t – and it was almost a perfect day,” Hawkes said.
