A long-range plan almost foiled by Sydneyâs weather has come to fruition with Team Hawkes snaring a Hot Danish Stakes success with late bloomer Electric Girl.
The Hawkesâ only took over the training of Electric Girl at the start of her current campaign and set a goal to get her to Saturdayâs Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.
Michael Hawkes admitted to some anxious moments during the week when he feared the track might come up wet, but he backed the drying powers of Rosehill and it paid dividends.
âWe set her for this race all along,â Hawkes said.
âShe won really good at the provincials first up and her last couple of runs were great, even last start at Randwick was very good. She only got beaten a length-and-a-half and ran fourth.
âI was very worried about the rain coming because sheâs not overly effective on a wet track.
âBut weâve done the job, sheâs a Group Two winner and itâs a great result.â
Electric Girl was bred by Ross Williams, who was renowned for his unique approach to breeding and enjoyed sustained success under his Superhorse banner before his death in August.
His family are carrying on his racing interests and Hawkes says it is great to get a result for them.
âRoss came back to us in the latter years and we tried to resurrect some of his older horses, Angel Of Truth and Archedemus, who won a Gong,â Hawkes said.
âHe was a left-field person but he really could breed a horse. You look at this mare now, sheâs a five-year-old, sheâs really coming to hand.
âHonestly, heâd be serving his mares to sires you just wouldnât really think of going to. He got a plan and he stuck to it and luckily enough for our team, (Williamsâ friend) âLeftyâ has taken over, and the family, and theyâre really wanting to go forward.â
Ridden by Jay Ford, Electric Girl ($12) trailed the speed before sprinting to the front and holding Rocha Clock ($3.70 fav) at bay by a half-length with Madam Rouge ($4.80) a neck away third.
