Emerging three-year-old Laser Hawk gave champion trainer Gai Waterhouse her second G1 Rosehill Guineas winner with an impressive display holding out kiwi gallopers Ocean Park and Silent Achiever in a close finish at Rosehill Gardens last Saturday.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Waterhouse who won the 2002 Rosehill Guineas with another rapid improving three-year-old Carnegie Express rates Laser Hawk as a superior galloper, saying she has never trained a three-year-old that has shown more potential, likening him to another talented galloper Victoria Derby winner and Melbourne Cup placed Nothin' Leica Dane.
Laser Hawk has now raced five times for four wins and to add a 2000m G1 to his CV at just his fifth race appearance reinforces Waterhouse's claim.
Laser Hawk is a half brother to Waterhouse's former grand weight for age galloper Desert War, a six- time G1 winner from 1600m to 2000m, but significantly beaten at his only two attempts at 2400m.
Laser Hawk's Timeform ratings rise has been spectacular, taking his rating from 101 fresh up at Rosehill in restricted class some weeks back to 123 last Saturday, a figure sitting a pound below star kiwi Jimmy Choux's victory in the 2011 Rosehill Guineas renewal.
Timeform computer analysis of the pre race form lines and ratings profiles suggest a 123 rating for Laser Hawk which is also consistent with the value based on the historical analysis of previous Rosehill Guineas renewals.
At that level Laser Hawk is assessed as one of the better winners of the Rosehill Guineas in the last 25 years, placing him on par with previous winners Metal Bender (2009), Sky Heights (1999) and Tie The Knot (1998).
The mighty three-year-old Octagonal's 1996 renewal victory over Saintly and Nothin' Leica Dane where he rated 125 still remains the highest rated Rosehill Guineas in the last 25 years.
Kiwi galloper Ocean Park and Silent Achiever both deserve mention as does the fourth placed Ambidexter.
Ocean Park has impressed in two runs since coming to Australia, first in the Randwick Guineas where he suffered interference and then last Saturday where he was forced to cover considerable additional ground.
Under Glen Boss, Ocean Park had to be used up from a wide barrier, making a long run deep around the field from just after the 800m, then turning for home at least five horses deep.
Ocean Park still loomed up to take the lead at the 300m and held on strongly for second as Laser Hawk who travelled on the fence throughout gained an inside split at the 200m.
Crack kiwi filly Silent Achiever was also disadvantaged by the wide draw and like Ocean Park covered considerable additional ground. Rider Hugh Bowman followed Ocean Park and was even wider at one point.
While never appearing likely to catch either Laser Hawk or Ocean Park, Silent Achiever never shirked her task knuckling down strongly to the line beaten two heads into third place.
Ambidexter had a much better run in the race than either of those two but still caught the eye finishing on strongly just behind the placegetters. He is close to a win but is yet to win past 1600m, something that may come against him in a stoutly run 2400m.
The Australian Derby at Randwick in a fortnight is shaping as an intriguing contest.
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