Hawk Flyer proves time and money well spent
by Chris McGrath

BACK in the spring, Saeed Suhail must have been asking Charlie Gordon-Watson, his bloodstock agent, exactly why he had spent $275,000 apiece on two colts at Keeneland in September 2001.
One had proved such a slow learner that he had not yet set foot on a racecourse; the other, such a slow worker that he would go off at 20-1 in a four-runner race at Chester in May.

As is now notorious, Kris Kin not only won the Dee Stakes but also the Vodafone Derby itself. Hawk Flyer, meanwhile, is fast making up for lost time, and could well develop into a St Leger candidate after winning the Woodcote Stud Stakes at Ascot yesterday. Gordon-Watson, needless to say, is pleased as punch. His ambition now is to see Suhail end the season as champion owner, which would certainly afford him bragging rights in Dubai this winter.

There were only three runners, but then that had also been the case when Highest won this race for Sir Michael Stoute last year. Highest went on to finish second in both the Great Voltigeur Stakes and the St Leger itself, and Stoute is likely to have York next on the agenda for Hawk Flyer, too.

Island Light set a reasonable tempo but used up his limited stamina in the process, and for much of the straight it looked as though Prince Nureyev was going to outpace Hawk Flyer. Indeed, he had his head in front deep inside the last furlong, but Hawk Flyer was responding bravely to Kieren Fallon and got back up by a neck. Having won a Doncaster maiden over ten furlongs a fortnight ago, this son of Silver Hawk — already the sire of one Leger winner in Mutafaweq — plainly relished his first start over a mile and a half. “He has taken his time to get his act together,” Bruce Raymond, Suhail’s racing manager, said. “But he is getting tighter with every race. He’s a really progressive horse.”

As for Kris Kin himself, he remains on target to come here on Saturday week for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. “He was taken out for a gallop the other day, and as usual didn’t do a thing,” Raymond smiled. “He works with another horse of Mr Suhail’s, First Charter, but will never get his head in front.”

His cause at Ascot will be assisted by the absence of Ange Gabriel, who is instead being freshened up for the autumn.