Stable bosses John O’Shea and Tom Charlton await a possible entry for recent signing Sam Hawkens into the Parramatta Cup, but Sydney Cup hopeful gelding Athabascan is already locked in for the event.

Trained before by William Haggas, the import Sam Hawkens is next in line should there be a scratching for the Saturday 1900m showdown, and Charlton wants to kick off his Australian tenure after solid trial efforts.

“From the start of the week, it looked like every horse above him was going to accept and that’s how it has panned out,” Charlton said.

“It is what it is. If he gets a run, he’ll run really well.

“He is an absolute gentleman and he’s a horse we really like.”

Sam Hawkens, a winner in Europe stretching to 2800m, had his only Australian run last spring in Randwick’s St Leger Stakes (2600m), fading to be unplaced when sent off favourite.

Following that, he left Haggas to join O’Shea-Charlton and has taken time to adapt locally.

In two sharp recent gallops, the five-year-old has impressed, setting sights on the Sydney Cup (3200m) endgame while Charlton predicts a sharp return.

“His best form in England was over a mile-and-a-half plus, so for him to trial sharply is great,” he said.

“His riders, James (McDonald) and Zac (Lloyd), have been quite complimentary and are saying he’ll be competitive over a mile.

“That gives us confidence he has come back well and he’s going to be a horse for the future, especially when he gets out over a trip.”

Fellow stable resident Athabascan eyes the Sydney Cup (3200m) this autumn carnival too, chasing a breakthrough after placing second to Circle Of Fire in 2023 and fifth behind Arapaho last year.

“He seems as enthusiastic and happy as ever,” Charlton said of Athabascan.

“He will improve from the run, but he can run a solid race and hopefully set himself up for some races down the line.”

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