Talented sprinter Skywalk bounced back to winning ways in commanding fashion in the $80,000 Class 3 race over 1000m on Polytrack on Sunday.
Fifth in a 1200m race first-up from a seven-month break three weeks ago, the Battle Paint four-year-old was in a race of his own once he secured the lead from his wide barrier.
As Super Six (Troy See) poked up on the fence, Skywalk had to stay one off the fence, but that did not fire him up at all. If anything, he remained a picture of poise for Manoel Nunes, just minding his own business upfront.
It would have then taken a very good horse to beat him at the point of the turn, so obvious it was that the Brazilian still had a lapful under him.
Even when his co-favourite ($14) Sir Isaac (Michael Rodd) jumped out of the pack to issue his challenge, he found another couple of lengths to easily shake off all his rivals and score on a tight rein, relegating the beaten brigade four lengths astern. Sir Isaac looked like he could hold on for second place, but he eventually lost it to Red Dawn (Matthew Kellady) by a head.
The winning time was a new Class record of 57.92 seconds for the 1000m on the Polytrack.
The China Horse Club-owned chestnut was bringing up a training double for James Peters who scored earlier with another favourite, The Odds (Rodd) in the $35,000 Open Maiden Division 2 race over 1400m.
“He’s definitely come on from his first run. Maybe we should have looked for a shorter trip first-up,” said the English handler.
“He has done well on Polytrack. I was not overly concerned by his wide gate (10) as I know he has enough gate speed.
“I was actually quite surprised to see him come over that quickly as I thought there would be one or two who would kick up on the inside.
“He travelled so well throughout and at the top of the straight, I was really happy with the way he was going.
“I think the 1000m is still too sharp for him. I’ll look through the programme, and may run him in the EW Barker Trophy with a low weight, but we’ll enjoy today’s win for now.
“It’s also great to have Mr Teo Ah Khing of China Horse Club today.”
The Group 2 EW Barker Trophy is a handicap race over 1400m run on November 10.
Nunes believes that Skywalk is more of a sprinter, but is leaving all the major decisions to Peters and connections.
“I told James he was too keen over 1200m first-up, and why not run him over 1000m instead,” said the Brazilian jockey.
“He galloped very well on Tuesday, and actually went better than Wimbledon who is a Class 1 horse.
“Today, he was too good. He travelled on the bit, and I was able to control the race all the way through.
“If James said he would run him in the EW Barker Trophy, he will need to get him ready for that.”
Skywalk is no stranger to Group racing as he was one of the leading contenders in the two-year-old series last year, and recently ran a meritorious fourth to Countofmontecristo in the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m).
With that fourth win in 10 starts, Skywalk has now seen his bank account swell past the $250,000 mark for the China Horse Club.
