The clock told the story as exciting sprinter Remarque overcame a ten-kilo weight differential to stamp his class at Randwick, and open the door to a Group 1 opportunity interstate.
Making light of his 62kg topweight, Remarque covered the 1000m in a class record 56.48 seconds, the final 600m in a sizzling 32.79s in what was a scintillating return.
“He’s had his throat operation, he’s had a gelding operation and last prep really put it on the wall for him,” co-trainer Michael Hawkes said.
“The horse trialled brilliantly, he was first-up today, 62 (kilos), Timmy (Clark) rode him beautifully.
“He cuddled him for as long as he could and the part I loved the most is when he got to the front he pricked his ears and said, ‘ís that it?’.
“He’s an exciting horse. We’ve always had a lot of time for him.”
A brother to 2018 Golden Slipper winner Esitjaab and owned by Arrowfield Stud, Remarque was a promising two-year-old and a dual stakes placegetter at three, but Team Hawkes knew he had more to offer.
The difficult decision was made to geld him and connections now look set to reap the rewards with Remarque winning three of his four starts since being cut, including Saturday’s Yarraman Park Handicap.
“Nobody wanted him a colt more than us and Arrowfield (Stud) because he’s Estijaab’s brother, but he is going to make his own name for himself and he’s doing that now,” Hawkes said.
“He is a quality horse on the rise.”
Remarque ($3.50 fav) scored by a length over Dragonstone ($12) with the winner’s stablemate Sebonack ($10) also pleasing Hawkes with his performance to finish third at what was his first run as a gelding.
Michael Hawkes said the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) in Melbourne on February 25 was among the races being considered for Remarque.
“There is a little race in three-weeks time called the Oakleigh Plate,” he said.
“Whether we head that way or keep him down a grade (I’m not sure), but it’s pretty exciting to have a horse like that in our stable,” Hawkes said.