Cliff Brown, the trainer, has toiled for more than three years and is eager for payoffs from Von Hauke.
This Saturday’s Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield represents Von Hauke’s campaign opener, possibly sparking international forays, though domestic interstate trips are likelier.
Von Hauke has hindered his own progress since starting races in January 2023.
Brown would describe it as ‘kid’s stuff’, doing things wrong in his races, playing up in his paddock to the extent the son of Savabeel required surgery for a jaw injury.
Brown’s patience with the gelding has been tested due to limited starts per prep, but he now thinks the six-year-old has wised up.
Earlier seasons began with 1100m trials for Von Hauke, including a pair at Caulfield, where he trailed the field before rallying.
Benefiting from maturity, Brown eyes the 1400m as suitable now.
“The reason has been he’s been such a hard going horse, but he seems to have grown up a lot lately,” Brown said.
“It may not work, but he seems a lot better in himself and not wanting to overdo things as badly as he has in the past.
“Hopefully, at this trip he can be handier and when he does get to the races, he is a lot more grown up.
“He’s come up very good but first-up at the 1400 (metres), he will improve.
“He had a great prep last time with the only failure he had was on that bottomless track on Champions Day, but bar that, he’s really well.”
In October, Von Hauke claimed the Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley, followed by a sixth-placing to Ceolwulf in Flemington’s Champions Mile on November 8.
Saturday could lead to Sha Tin’s Champions Mile in Hong Kong on April 26, or a Brisbane path toward the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June.
The Hong Kong nomination was, per Brown, a ‘throw at the stumps’ gamble.
“Hong Kong is not ruled in, it’s not ruled out, but it also depends on what is going to run up there,” Brown said.
“The horse is in good shape, so we’ll see how he goes, but he might go to Brisbane. The Stradbroke could be on the agenda if he’s good enough.”
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