Connections of Hucklebuck will head to the Australian Guineas with their confidence boosted after the three-year-old raced into favouritism for the Group One race with victory in the CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington.
Hucklebuck accounted for a classy field in Saturday’s Group Three 1400-metre event to confirm his Australian Guineas campaign was right on target.
The Phillip Stokes-trained gelding was sent out the $2.80 favourite and settled three pairs back on the fence before jockey Dom Tourneur angled his way out into clear running early in the straight.
Hucklebuck, Dom Tourneur - Photo by Sharon Chapman
Hucklebuck moved up to hit the front from Prince Harada ($7) at the 200m and defeated the Tony Vasil-trained colt by 1-1/4 lengths with three-quarters of a length to The Quarterback ($6) in third.
Tourneur wanted to get a guide in Saturday’s race against The Quarterback and Worth A Ransom who had finished in the placings behind another leading Guineas contender Bull Point last start.
“I think we’ve got their measure,” Tourneur said of Saturday’s opposition.
“Whether Bull Point steps up another gear, we’ll see.
“We’ve still got to step up a bit too, it’s a Group One race, but after today’s win you’ve got to be pretty confident.”
Stokes said the work done with Hucklebuck to teach him to settle was starting to pay off after the talented galloper claimed his fifth win from seven starts.
“He relaxed today. He has let down well and he’ll take benefit from it,” Stokes said.
“We’ll be back in two weeks.”
Hucklebuck moved to $6 TAB favourite for the Guineas over Bull Point ($7) who had an exhibition gallop on Saturday between races.
Prince Harada went forward to sit second in the run and Craig Williams said the colt ran well but still had more maturing to do.
The Quarterback’s trainer Robbie Griffiths is convinced his charge is right in the mix for the Guineas stepping up to 1600m at level weights.
