Skyhook affirmed his elite quality and lodged a serious claim for the Stradbroke Handicap by dictating terms for a stylish win in the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) held at Hawkesbury on Saturday.
Premier rider Josh Parr adhered meticulously to the blueprint from trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, guiding the bold chestnut to victory unchallenged in the Guineas.
“When Sterling and I were doing the form on the race on Thursday, we noticed there wasn’t a lot of early speed,” Ryan said.
“So, we decided to lead and take bad luck out of the equation. He won the Pago Pago Stakes last season when he led so we told Josh to ride him like the best horse in the race.
“Josh, who first rode for me 20 years ago, did everything right on Skyhook, it was a very good ride.
“It’s funny because a number of other jockeys knocked back the ride on Skyhook but when I saw Josh on a winner at Randwick last Saturday, I asked him to ride the colt – and I’m glad I did!”
At $3.40, Skyhook mastered his 58kg weight to triumph by 1.5 lengths ahead of Burma Star ($18), from Wootton Lass ($41) who was a half-length behind in third.
Despite firming to $2.70, Regal Award lacked the necessary punch and ended up fifth.
Ryan and Alexiou now harbour high hopes for the brilliant three-year-old’s assault on Brisbane’s autumn-winter carnival following Skyhook’s resurgence.
Skyhook could be aimed at the Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 13, according to Ryan.
“Skyhook is a well-bred colt so you have to look at Group 1 options like the Doomben 10,000 (May 16),” Ryan said.
“But I believe this horse likes his races spaced and we might look at something like the (Group 3 $300,000) Fred Best Classic (1400m, Eagle Farm, May 30). If he wins that race, then he gets into the Stradbroke field.”
Skyhook advanced to $15 in Stradbroke betting markets, fourth favourite behind Angel Capital at $6.
For the best betting sites covering Skyhook in the Stradbroke Handicap, visit trusted Australian betting sites.
