Michael Hawkes is convinced a wide draw cost Swiftfalcon in the Gloaming Stakes but the trainer is confident the promising gelding is on song for his attempt to go one better in the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick.
Swiftfalcon is poised to get his first chance to chase a Group 1 win when he contests Saturday’s Spring Champion for three-year-olds over 2000 metres, having gradually stepped up in distance during his current campaign.
After impressive wins in a 1420m benchmark race at Flemington and the Listed Dulcify Quality (1600m) at Randwick, Swiftfalcon then finished a closing second in the Group 3 Gloaming over 1800m at Rosehill last start on October 12 behind fellow Spring Champion contender El Castello.
Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his brother Wayne and father John, said Swiftfalcon had come through his Gloaming run really well.
“It was a fantastic effort, just with bad barriers unfortunately you have to probably go back that one or two pairs further back than what we would have anticipated,” Hawkes said.
“But it was a huge run.
“Unfortunately he had a bit of traffic in front of him and he had to manoeuvre around that, but it was just the run of the race.
“Should he have won? Yes, he probably should have.
“He still ran very creditable and looking like he’s going to get a strong 2000 metres.”
Swiftfalcon is favourite for the Spring Champion ahead of El Castello, Henlein and Flight Stakes runner-up Harlem Queen, who were among 13 entries when they closed on Monday.
“He just needs to draw a barrier and it’s his for the taking,” Hawkes said.
Hawkes said the Spring Champion had always been there as a potential target for Swiftfalcon this campaign but they remained flexible as they continued stepping him out in distance.
“It’s always been there but until you really stretch them out, you don’t really know,” Hawkes said.
“He gave every indication that he’s wanted the 2000.
“When he won the Dulcify he had a great turn of foot and really put them to the sword.”
Hawkes said they thought three weeks from that race to the Spring Champion might have been too much so they elected to back him up seven days after the Dulcify in the Gloaming.
“He backed up, he ran 1800 metres so we’re looking forward to the 2000 metres with two weeks obviously from that run,” he said.
“And he’s looking like he’s on song.”
Jay Ford has ridden Swiftfalcon in four of his six starts and is set to pilot him again in the Spring Champion, a race the jockey has won twice before on Hotel Grand (2005) and Monaco Consul (2009).
