Youth and experience combined to great effect in the Metropolitan H. at Randwick on Saturday when young jockey Blake Spriggs got a great tune out of veteran galloper Sir John Hawkwood (Ire) (Sir Percy {GB}) to claim a first Group 1 victory for the pair. The winner was having only his second start for the John Thompson stable and was given a positive ride by 24-year-old Briggs who made his move rounding the home turn, taking a few lengths out of the field and maintaining his momentum to the line, eventually seeing off favourite Antonio Giuseppe (NZ) (Shocking {Aus}), one of six Chris Waller trained horses, by a length and a quarter. Team Godolphin's Allergic (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) completed the placings in third. The winning rider was savoring the moment and had gone over the race many times in his head beforehand. “To win a Group One race is such a thrill and to do it for [owner] Paul Fudge on this horse is even better,” Briggs told Racing And Sports. “I had Plan A, B and C and Plan A worked out so I didn't have to go to the other two. I just have to pinch myself that it all worked out,” he added.
Having begun his career in England with fellow Knight ,Sir Michael Stoute, Sir John Hawkwood is now with his fourth trainer and John Thompson was quick to offload credit to both the rider and even his former boss, the late Bart Cummings. “I'm still getting to know the horse. Blake does know him well and he comes and rides him and has been a big help.” Thompson added, “and I remembered Bart [Cummings] telling me that to win a Metropolitan you had to take the horses to Kembla in the week before and give them a gallop so I did that too.”
Pedigree notes…
A second Group 1 winner for G1 Epsom Derby winner Sir Percy (GB), Sir John Hawkwood was bred at the Weinstock family's famed Ballymacoll nursery in Co Meath, Ireland. His dam Athene was a winner in England and is also the dam of the Group 3 winners Greek Renaissance (Ire) (Machiavellian) and Side Saddle (Ire) (Saddlers's Hall {Ire}) among nine winners from thirteen foals. Her dam Gay Hellene (Ela Mana Mou {Ire}) won a Group 3 in France and produced the American stakes winner Nash Terrace (Ire) (Nashwan). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
MCGRATH ESTATE AGENTS METROPOLITAN H. – G1, A$747,500, ATC, 10-01, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:30.47, gd.
1–&SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD (IRE) , 54.0, g, 7, by Sir Percy (GB)
1st Dam: Athene (IRE), by Rousillon
2nd Dam: Gay Hellene (GB), by Ela-Mana-Mou (IRE)
3rd Dam: Gaily, by Sir Gaylord
O-Waratah Thoroughbreds (Mgr: P G Fudge); B-Ballymacoll Stud Farm Ltd, IRE; T-John Thompson; J-B Spriggs; A$450,500.
Lifetime Record: 28-8-6-1, A$1,096,003. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A.
[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]2–Antonio Giuseppe (NZ) , 51.0, g, 4, Shocking (Aus)–Crystalthecowgirl (NZ), by High Chaparral (IRE). (NZ$97,500 Ylg 2014 NZB National Yearling Sale) O-A M
Muollo & Mrs G L Muollo; B-R H & Est late E M Rutherford, Canterbury, NZ; T-C J Waller; J-G Boss; A$148,500.
3–Allergic (Aus), 51.5, g, 5, Street Cry (IRE) –Cajou, by Encosta de Lago (Aus). O-Godolphin; B-Darley VIC; T-J A O'Shea; J-M J Dee; A$74,250.
Margins: 1.3, 1.4, 1.6.
Also Ran: Sacred Master (NZ), Sense of Occasion (Aus), Junoob (GB), Who Shot Thebarman (NZ), Dee I Cee (NZ), Grand Marshal (GB), Magic Hurricane (IRE), Quartermaster (Aus), Amexed (NZ), Storm the Stars. Click for the Racing Post result.
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