Hankee Alpha was initially sent to trainer Cindy Alderson with the singular goal of winning the ‘Grey’s Race’ on the third day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. However, the sheer brilliance of the mare’s Australian debut victory at Flemington has significantly altered the initial plans.
The mare’s connections are now considering the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes, a 1200-metre race set for Saturday, which could offer valuable ‘Black Type’ for the daughter of Proisir.
Despite the race being a benchmark 78 event on a heavy track when Alderson first presented the mare on October 3, Hankee Alpha’s performance was outstanding, delivering a dominant six-length triumph over the Flemington straight 1200m course.
“When she first came over, she came over for the ‘grey’s race’ (1400m), as she has got form over that trip in New Zealand,” Alderson said.
“I always had an inclination that she would be a good straight horse from a few things I saw about her in New Zealand.
“She was a little bit steady out of the barriers, and she didn’t muster speed all that quickly but was always building in her races to the line.
“That to me suggested she would set up as a good straight horse, which luckily, I was right about.
“It was only a benchmark 78, but she put them away pretty emphatically and had the race won a long way out.
“Whether it was a one off, or whether it was the wet track, but she’s given me every indication that she gone on.”
Alderson had also noted the Group 3 Asahi Super Dry Sprint (1100m) as a contingency, but preferred that Hankee Alpha did not qualify for that race.
Fortunately for Alderson, the mare secured the 20th position in the full field and will be reunited with jockey Craig Williams, who partnered her in her victorious Australian debut.
She highlighted that the opportunity to race Hankee Alpha down the straight once more was too appealing to pass up, even though it falls on the high-profile Victoria Derby Day.
“I said to the owners that you only get straight track racing in Victoria 13 times a year, and four are coming up this week, so we might as well give it a go,” Alderson explained.
“It wouldn’t be impossible, if she didn’t live up to expectations, that she could go to the ‘grey’s race’ on the Thursday.”
Subsequent to her decisive victory, Hankee Alpha participated in jump-outs, achieving a win over 800m on October 19.
“She wasn’t as impressive as she was before her win, but it was only 800 metres and it’s kept her fitness up,” Alderson commented.
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