A reduction in distance is the sole apprehension for those involved with Skyhook as he aims to extend his winning streak to four in this Saturday’s $1 million Silver Eagle at Randwick.
The four-year-old has experienced a highly successful period since being ridden more positively in races, capturing the Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) in May and subsequently winning three of his next four starts.
He is also undefeated in two starts this season, beginning with a win in the Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) and following up with a dominant display in the Shannon Stakes (1500m) last start.
However, he faces a 200-metre decrease in distance for Saturday’s Silver Eagle (1300m), his final race before contesting the Golden Eagle (1500m) a fortnight later. Co-trainer Sterling Alexiou acknowledges this as his only reservation.
“Really happy with him, and he’ll take his place in the Silver Eagle,” Alexiou said.
“He’s been in a really good groove all preparation. He does have to come back to 1300, which may be a little question mark with him coming back from 1500.”
“But he seems to have freshened up well, so hopefully we’ve got a bit more speed in his legs for that.”
Skyhook currently sits as the third favourite for the Golden Eagle, with his odds moving to $8 after Sheza Alibi eased from $1.60 to $1.80 following a shock defeat last Saturday. Beiwacht is the second favourite at $6.
Skyhook’s stablemate Matias will be looking to boost his chances for The Big Dance on Saturday, scheduled to compete in the $160,000 Big Dance Wild Card (1600m).
The winner of the Frank Packer Plate (2000m) during the autumn, Matias resumed with an encouraging fourth place in the Cameron Handicap (1400m) at Newcastle and has since had a trial to maintain his fitness.
“Hopefully he can run first or second in that race and qualify himself for a Big Dance or Little Dance,” Alexiou commented.
“He went to the Cameron Handicap a little bit underdone off only one trial, but you can’t run in the Wild Card if you haven’t run in a qualifier, and that was his chance to run in a qualifier, so he went there with improvement to come.”
Alexiou confirmed that the promising filly Chilly Girl has been sent to the spelling paddock and will be aimed at The Sunlight at the Gold Coast in January.
Betting markets for the race are already heating up, with Skyhook a strong contender.