Champion trainer Laurie Laxon gave three of his Friday runners a final workout on Tuesday morning, including smart sprinter Huka Falls.
Huka Falls (Corey Brown) finished the worst of the trio – fifth, but it must be said he was never put under any pressure, ambling in within his own steam to finish just under three lengths from the winner, stablemate Straighttothepoint (Farick Tan), who is first-up in the Class 3 scamper over 1000m. Bordeaux (Rueven Ravindra), an entrant in the Class 4 race over 1100m, ran third, another 1 ¾ lengths away.
Back from his French holidays since Sunday, Laxon never took his eyes off his three charges during the 1000m blowout. Particularly satisfying to the New Zealander was the way Huka Falls, a horse who has given him 10 wins and was once even seen as Hong Kong material, has pulled up since that relentless run at his comeback race last month when he came undone from his speed showdown with Pioneer Seven.
With Brown up, Huka Falls was one of the best away in the 1200m race, sticking his head in front, but soon got all fired up when favourite Pioneer Seven (Manoel Nunes) kicked up on the inside in a bid for early supremacy. With the pair giving each other no quarters, such cut-throat tactics could only lead to one outcome – they both blew up to finish out of the placings, about five lengths off the winner Cavallo.
Laxon and assistant-trainer Shane Ellis have put a pencil through that run, confident a fitter Huka Falls cannot go any worse in Friday’s Polytrack handicap event, a race that has eluded Laxon in four years of running.
“He’s in good form and I was very happy with his trial today, as well as for the other two. That will top them off nicely,” said Laxon.
“Huka Falls has been a good horse to me and I think he should run well on Friday night. I’m sure he will improve from his last run.”
Ellis said that the Woodlands Handicap slotted in nicely for the Silver Fern Racing Stable galloper, who should be right in his element in the Polytrack event, even if he will be giving weight to most of his rivals.
“There aren’t many races for him, and that race was ideal for him,” said Ellis.
“He’s always been in that class and he’s got good Polytrack form. If he draws a good barrier, he should be right there.
“He’s a big gross horse, but he’s a clean-winded horse and very easy to train. He’s a super track worker.
“He’s come back in good order from his last run. The two jockeys thought it was a 800m race on that day.
“If we hold him up a bit this time, he should run better.”
While Huka Falls is clearly the apple of Laxon’s eyes, Straighttothepoint is not without the qualities which can take him to the same heights one day.
“Straighttothepoint has been off the scene because of a sore foot, but he’s come along well,” said Laxon.
“He also had a good trial today and he can go well fresh.”
The Pins four-year-old has not been sighted since his fifth place to War Affair in the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) in April. Raced by the Jupiter Stable, Straighttothepoint is also held in high esteem by Laxon and Ellis.
“He’s one of the best horses in our stable,” said Ellis. “He can have a high head carriage and that’s why he wears a shadow roll in his races, but he sure can gallop.
“He pulled up with a hoof infection after his Group race, but the Singapore Turf Club farrier has done a good job with him.
“He’s a big striding horse, who once he gets into his rhythm, will just roll along.”
As for Bordeaux, one of the first horses along with Deauville to reflect Laxon’s newfound love for all things French following his first visit to France last year, the Laxon camp was hopeful of another winning toast.
“He trained off after his last start (March 23) and we gave him a spell. He’s not a big a horse but he is going good,” said Ellis of the Sir Percy four-year-old Sir Peter Vela owns in partnership with Silver Fern Racing.
“He’s a funny horse in that he doesn’t show much super speed in his trackwork, but he sure can be quick in his races. He finished alongside Huka Falls in the trial, and we expect him to run well too.”
