Enigmatic stayer White Hawk delivered another knockout blow to punters when he powered home to win the Ladbrokes Golden Mile (1650m) in Devonport on Friday.
Starting as one of the rank outsiders at $61 and close to $100 on the Tote, the Angela Brakey-trained gelding flashed home late as the widest runner to score from Balearic ($13) and race leader Queen La Diva ($13).
White Hawk finished third in last season’s Launceston Cup (2400m) and won a minor cup on the way to that event starting at 100-1, but this time in he has been quite proficient over the shorter trips.
“His long-term goals are the major cups, but he is capable of winning a Devonport Cup if he can be ridden to instructions, just like Mehmet Ulucinar did today,” Brakey said.
“I asked Mehmet is he could have the horse settled fourth or fifth and to just make sure he improved from the 1000m and whatever, don’t stop riding him and he did that, and we got the result.”
Queen La Diva set a solid tempo ahead of the well-backed favourite Rising Light ($4.20) with Vallabar just off the speed.
The easing early favourite Assaranca showed no speed early and was eased back to near the rear and while she improved from the 600m to be in contention she couldn’t finish the race off.
Brakey said White Hawk would head to the Sheffield Cup (1650m) in a fortnight and then on to the Devonport Cup (1880m) on January 5.
Siggy Carr had a day out riding four winners on the eight-event card, of which one was from her stable.
Carr delivered a gem of a ride to secure victory for the Team Wells-trained Rebel Factor in a class one over 1150m and she brought home the last three winners in Divisor, that she also trains, The Beekeeper for Stuart gandy and the Adam Trinder-trained Anacreon in a BM62 over 1350m.
Carr took her season tally to 20 wins and only two behind last year’s leading apprentice Codi Jordan with another apprentice Erica Byrne Burke splitting the pair on 21 and multiple premiership-winning rider Brendon McCoull is also on 20.
