Happy Galaxy does it again

Happy Galaxy completed an interstate double for Hawkes Racing when he led all the way in Saturday’s Barry Maher Memorial (1200m) at Rosehill.

The Rosehill-based stable registered a victory with Danrho in the opening event of the lucrative Magic Millions day at the Gold Coast.

Happy Galaxy went straight to the front for jockey Jay Ford as the son of Nadeem went in search of consecutive victories following a strong frontrunning performance on New Year’s Day.

Ford kept the three-year-old under a good hold during the middle stages of the race..

"He has good natural speed. We were planning to take a sit but no one wanted it and I thought he’d prove too difficult to try and settle,” Ford said.

"He relaxes well when he’s out in front.”

Rounding the turn, he slipped Happy Galaxy a little more rein and the pair quickly put the race beyond doubt, leaving his opponents several lengths behind.

"I didn’t think we went that hard and he was able to sort of slip into the straight,” he said.

"Then we put a margin on them and I hadn’t even let him off the bridle.”

Happy Galaxy ($6) defeated Taxmeifyoucan ($6.50), who came from the tail of the field, by four lengths with race favourite Relaxed And Happy ($2.90) three-quarters of a length away in third.

Relaxed And Happy was fractious at the barriers and delayed the start of the three-year-old event before vets cleared him to race.