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“We’re here to win”: Hawkes stable in pursuit of Magic Million riches with promising colt
Andrew Slevison • January 16th, 2025 4:33 pm
A good track would be ideal for Gallo Nero at the Gold Coast on Friday night.
That is the opinion of trainer Michael Hawkes who is hoping the rain stays away for the rescheduled Magic Millions meeting.
The Hawks stable had the two-year-old colt primed to run in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) last Saturday but after three races the meeting was abandoned due to inclement weather and then pushed back to this Friday night.
Hawkes, who insists they aren’t on the Gold Coast just to make up the numbers, believes Gallo Nero can scoop the prize provided the surface doesn’t become too wet with a little bit of rain forecast around the area.
“We’re here to win, we’re not here to run second,” Hawkes said on SENTrack’s Giddy Up.
“It’s not a holiday for us by any means. Things happen, things change in life and you just have to adapt with it, and we got on the front foot early
“It’s business, it’s the way it is. As I said, we’re here to win, not run second.
“The horse is great, he’s well, I can’t fault him. He looks enormous.
“It hasn’t rained, it’s a soft 6 at the moment and there is rain due. Hopefully we get to a good track and if we do I think it will be great for everybody (in the Hawkes stable).”
Gallo Nero, who will be ridden by Tyler Schiller, is currently priced at $7.50 with Sportsbet for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic which jumps at 7:03pm AEDT on Friday night.
Memo, for Peter Snowden, is the $6 favourite ahead of Tony Gollan’s La Bella Boom at $6.50.
Another key juvenile galloper out of the Hawkes stable is West Of Swindon who is being set for the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 22.
The son of Wootton Bassett has had one career start when second behind North England in the Golden Gift at Rosehill in early November.
“He’s been at the pre-trainers, all is good,” Hawkes said.
“He’s got a lovely prep ahead of him. Obviously everyone has seen him and what he can do.
“For us it’s just about getting him to win going forward. He’s had the one start and ran second, I believe if he had have drawn a barrier that day he just wins.
“He had to make his own luck from a bad barrier and he stormed home. He’s a quality colt going forward.”
West Of Swindon is rated a $17 Golden Slipper chance with Sportsbet.
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