Sydney colt Hawkspur completed the winter carnival treble with a resounding victory in Saturday’s Group 1 Channel Seven Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm.
The victory provided Chris Waller with his eighth Group 1 win of the season and the first Derby of his training career. It also provided Jim Cassidy his 98th Group 1 win.
Hawkspur was starting as equal favourite at $4, defeated Electric Fusion ($17) by two and a half lengths with Honorius ($7.5) a half-neck away third. The Derby victory completed a magnificent treble after the colt’s previous wins in the Rough Habit Plate and Grand Prix last month.
“When you have a rider like Jim Cassidy it makes a bit more relaxed going into a big race,’’ said Waller.
“He’s a genius and full credit to him. He did a great job to win the Rough Habit and Grand Prix on this horse and repeated it again today.
“The horse blew the start and made things awkward for himself. But Jimmy steadied him and gave him a terrific run.’’
Hawkspure’s win took his stakes earnings to more than $600,000. He will now be heading to a well deserved spell before embarking on a cups campaign in the spring.
By Owens Wong
