Jim Goldie is hoping Hawkeyethenoo can secure a first success at Lingfield Park in the Cleves Stakes
Jim Goldie is hoping Hawkeyethenoo can secure a first success at Lingfield Park in the Cleves Stakes next Saturday.
Last Updated: 16/02/14 2:16pm
The popular eight-year-old, who finished fourth in last year's Group One Haydock Park Sprint Cup, has made the first four in all three of his starts at the course during the All-Weather Championships and was last seen finishing fast in fourth under top-weight to Alfred Hutchinson in a valuable seven-furlong handicap on January 24.
He chased home Tarooq in a six-furlong contest on December 18, in which the first six home all bettered the previous track record, and also finished fourth to Valbchek in the Listed Best Odds At bookmakers.co.uk Golden Rose Stakes over the same trip on November 16.
Goldie reported: "I am leaning towards the Cleves Stakes for Hawkeyethenoo.
"He has been fine since his run at Lingfield last time, but doesn't seem to get any luck around there. We will keep practising and there is certain day in April (All-Weather Championships Finals Day, April 18) that we are working towards. He has never been out of the prize money at Lingfield and it's all experience for him.
"He is in very good order though and hopefully he will have better luck next Saturday. He is the second-fastest horse over six furlongs at Lingfield and has run in all three races where they have gone under the track record, which must be unique.
"He has been doing that without having luck in running, so, if he does get the gaps, he will probably be the one they all have to beat.
"People will say we should ride him closer, but that's his style of running and it's the same for everyone else. It's a tactical fascination because if you go quick in front you just have to hope you will hang on, but if you drop out you have to hope you will get a clear run."
The Compare Bookmakers At bookmakers.co.uk Cleves Stakes is one of two Fast-Track qualifiers for Finals Day on Good Friday to be staged at Lingfield Park on Saturday, with the other being the £37,000 Listed coral.co.uk Winter Derby Trial over 10 furlongs.
A high-quality seven-race programme also features the £45,000 Ladbrokes Handicap over seven furlongs and the £17,500 bookmakers.co.uk Sprint Series Final Handicap over six furlongs.