EF NOV 25 - MILLENIUM HAWK SWOOPS TO VICTORY

By Graham Potter | Friday, November 27, 2009

Eagle Farm, November 25, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 10.5m.
Maiden Plate (Set Weights) - 1600m. Time: 1-36.81.
1 Millenium Hawk; 2 Run Jake Run; 3 Pablo.

The Gerald Ryan trained Millenium Hawk was only having his second start, but his natural ability has been quick to come to the fore. A runner-up on his debut, Millenium Hawk went one better here catching the eye with a solid come-from-behind win.

Jockey Brad Pengelly kept Millenium Hawk back in second last place until the turn. The rider faced a dilemma on straightening as Millenium Hawk was trapped behind runners as he cornered.

A decision was made quickly as Pengelly elected to shift Millenium Hawk out wider on the track. The gelding momentarily lost some momentum, but he quickly picked up his rhythm under strong urging from his rider.

The three-year-old showed race-winning acceleration halfway up the straight as he surged into contention before racing right past his opposition in impressive fashion to win full of running.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Matthew Dunn (foreman for the Gerald Ryan stable at Murwillumbah): “Look, he is a much better racehorse than he is at home. He is a good chaser. He’s been with us from when he was broken in. Obviously the plan is for him to go to Sydney (Ryan’s home base) eventually. We’re going to try and hang to him a little bit longer if we can.

“The plan was to let him sort of learn his trade up here and then go down (to Sydney) when he’s doing everything right, which he probably isn’t yet. He is still doing things wrong although he probably ran a bit better than we expected actually."

Jockey Brad Pengelly: “He is just very, very immature. He was on and off the bit so many times, which had an effect on him. He had me negotiating a clear path on him, you know. Once I got him to the outside he extended nicely. He has got a lot of natural ability. He is just very immature.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Millenium Hawk): 5.00 out to 6.00 in to 5.50.
Favourite (Dubai Miss): 2.30 in to 2.20 out to 2.30. Finished seventh.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Millenium Hawk (B. Pengelly) and Dourado (App M.Speers) were tightened on jumping away between Joyeux Joy (B. Stewart), which shifted in and Run Jake Run (D. Griffin), which shifted out. Run Jake Run then shifted in and made heavy contact with Enterprise Star (M. Cahill).

Joyeaux Joy which had been three wide until leaving the 800m shifted in and cramped Sir Mossman (App O. Turpin) and Dubai Miss (J. Byrne), which was racing on the rails.

Near the 250m Dubai Miss was disappointed for a run between Troop (G. Colless) and Joyeux Joy. A short distance later Dubai Miss was disappointed for a run between Joyeux Joy and Enterprise Star and was unable to obtain clear running until near the 100m.

Run Jake Run was held up rounding the home turn and was unable to obtain clear running until the final 100m. Near the 100m Pablo (C. Reith) and Fast Fleet (J. Taylor) bumped. Following the running of this event M. Cahill was stood down by the Club's doctor