Laidback Larry confirmed himself as one to watch later this spring while Team Hawkes unveiled a new string in their two-year-old bow for season 2013/14.
While still very much in the midst of off season racing, both Randwick and Flemington on Saturday each provided a winner worth noting for the future as stakes prospects.
The most encouraging win of the day at Randwick was that of Laidback Larry in the TAB Rewards Benchmark 85 Handicap (2000m).
Laidback Larry looked the best bet on the Randwick program last Saturday and duly delivered, leading throughout for a clear cut victory.
The son of O’Reilly is now unbeaten from three starts this campaign and impressive about those wins is the sharp improvement shown during each hit-out.
A first up success at Canterbury over 1580m yielded a Timeform figure of 86.
The performance augured well for his summer campaign with knowledge the four-year-old would take benefit from the run.
Laidback Larry has won his past two outings by a combined margin of ten lengths.
His second up victory returned a figure of 97p and improved on his master figure by 10 pounds over 2000m at Randwick last Saturday.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained galloper ran well above standard time and in the end did it with ease.
Connections have Group 1 goals with the four-year-old including the Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October.
With that in mind, they have decided to venture south with Laidback Larry for the Mornington Cup (2400m) on February 12 where the winner gains automatic entry into the event.
Only coming out of a Benchmark 85, Laidback Larry will be down in the weights and all signs point to him lapping up the 2400m.
There is plenty of room for improvement on the last start Timeform rating of 107p he ran to last Saturday and Laidback Larry can certainly continue his winning streak at stakes level next start.
A Mornington Cup win would allow connections to plot a perfect path toward the Caulfield Cup with Laidback Larry where again he should sit well down in the weights.
At Flemington, Nostradamus got the program off to an exciting start by taking out the Nursery Plate (1100m).
By exciting stallion Medaglio D’Oro out of Leone Chiara, Nostradamus is a half brother to 2010 Blue Diamond winner Star Witness.
Expectations were of course always going to be high for the colt and he duly delivered with a comfortable debut win.
He is now equal second favourite for next month’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) behind the Peter Snowden-trained filly Earthquake.
Earthquake is currently the second highest rated two-year-old in Australia behind only Unencumbered after her debut performance yielded a Timeform rating of 113+.
Nostradamus won his debut comfortably and wasn’t fully extended. A slow overall time ensued however and the run was only awarded a Timeform figure of 93p.
In saying that, times right throughout the Flemington program last Saturday were below average largely thanks to a headwind greeting runners in the straight.
Nostradamus looks open to further improvement and if anything like his half brother will make giant strides quickly between now and the Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).
He is certainly one for the future and will win his fair share of races as a younger horse hence his inclusion in the Timeform Blackbook.
One must wonder however whether the Blue Diamond will come too soon.
Only two juveniles in the past ten years have won the Blue Diamond following debuts made after December, Reward For Effort (2009) and Undoubtedly (2005).
Stablemate Bugatty won at Flemington the week prior with an effort assessed at 100.
He perhaps is the main Blue Diamond hope for Team Hawkes while a Golden Slipper prep or even a Queensland campaign would suit Nostradamus that bit better.
It is Team Hawkes’ All American colt Invisible who actually possesses the highest master Timeform rating of the trio with 107p achieved when winning on debut at Canterbury.
