All is good in the Maluckyday camp
Team Hawkes is a satisfied training operation on Sunday with its Melbourne Cup contender Maluckyday coming through Saturday’s win in the Lexus Classic in good order.
The lightly raced son of Zabeel burst onto the Melbourne Cup stage with one of the best performances seen in recent years to win the 2500-metre race that gained ballot exemption in Tuesday’s $6 million Group I.
“He’s really good,” Maluckyday’s co-trainer Michael Hawkes said.
“He’s nice and bright and come out of the race well.
“I actually think he’s pulled up better than he has is past runs this preparation.”
Hawkes said the training team, which includes his brother Wayne and father John, is relaxed about what lies ahead until Tuesday claiming a potential victory in “the race that stops a nation” would be a bonus for the inexperienced galloper.
“He’s the most immature horse in the field but deserves his place in the field,” he said.
“When he came to Melbourne we never ruled out a possible start in the Cup but the trip was about educating the horse and qualifying him for 2011.
“He just keeps taking every step we ask of him.
“Tuesday’s another massive step up in grade but I’m not going to say he can’t because he hasn’t let us down yet.”
One factor that came out of Saturday’s Derby day meeting that could play into Maluckyday’s hands is the 60 mm of rain that fell at Flemington didn’t arrive until after Maluckyday charged home over the top of Linton to gain his Melbourne Cup ticket.
“One benefit from Saturday is that we were in early on a good track while a few of the others were slugging it out on a pretty ordinary track and that could be important on Tuesday,” Hawkes said.
“Another thing that made Saturday so good was he drew wide and on the corner he was last but from barrier six he’ll just put him wherever he’s got to be and he’ll just switch off like a light.
“The best asset he has is his ability to unleash an explosive sprint at the end of a mile and a half.”
Hawkes said the job for the training team now is to “dot the Is and cross the Ts” and just keep Maluckyday ticking over until he’s saddled up on Tuesday.
“He just had a canter round this morning and he’ll have another canter around in the morning,” he said.
“All the work is done now so we just need to keep him happy.”
Maluckyday is rated a $10 chance to repeat Shocking last year by winning the Lexus / Melbourne Cup double.
Melbourne's premiership-winning jockey Luke Nolen takes over the reins aboard Maluckyday after the horse's regular rider Jim Cassidy was unable to secure a release from his Melbourne Cup mount, Once Were Wild.
Clinton Payne Racenet
Photo by Martin King Sportpix