The winter winning streak of Ice Kool has come to an end with Newcastle gelding Hawker Hall relegating the promising sprinter to fourth in the Elite Sand and Soil Handicap at Randwick.
Ice Kool was chasing his third win in succession but after racing with the leading group was unable to match Hawker Hall’s sprint at the top of the rise.
Winning trainer Kris Lees said his charge’s ability to put himself on speed and keep finding was key to his victory, and he was entitled to feel the pinch late at what was his first run since March.
Ridden by James McDonald, who earlier scored aboard Astronomix to give him a double at his first Sydney Saturday meeting this winter, Hawker Hall ($6.50) clung to victory by a long head over the fast-finishing Istolea Merc ($26) with Zouripper ($16) another 1-1/2 lengths away third.
Ice Kool ($2.35 favourite) was best of the rest.
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“He didn’t get it easy, but James kept him in a comfortable rhythm,” Lees said.
“He put them away at the top of the straight, and he was probably on empty that last fifty metres – understandably being first time out because I thought he had a fair bit of improvement to come. But really good effort.
“He was able to get a good enough breather before the corner, and that was probably the difference.”
Hawker Hall contested the Gosford heat of the Provincial-Midway Championships in March with a view to the 1400m Final, but failed to qualify, and Lees said he would stick to shorter races for now.
The rising five-year-old will be kept fresh for his next run, and while Lees isn’t certain where that will be, he feels Hawker Hall can take the next step to stakes grade.
“He has been a work in progress, but he’s certainly found his level now, and he’s going the right way,” he said.
“We like to space his runs so there will be no great rush to get him back to the track, but there are some nice races over the spring for him.
“He’s going to have to keep stepping up but he’s certainly up to open company and Listed type level, I feel.”
Ice Kool’s regular jockey Jay Ford felt the three-year-old had come to the end of his preparation and Saturday’s result wasn’t a reflection of his talent.
“He didn’t show the same energy levels he has previously,” Ford said.
“He was found wanting today, but he didn’t give up. Just that explosiveness we’ve seen at the back of his races wasn’t there.
“I think it’s just a case of him looking for a break.”
