Laohu kicks goal for Carlton star Bryce Gibbs

CARLTON footballer Bryce Gibbs kicked off the season an early winner when Laohu saluted in the Tim Sando Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield yesterday.

The former No. 1 AFL draft choice is one of the owners, predominantly fanatics from the Glenelg Football Club where the 25-year-old won the club's under-17 best-&-fairest and made his senior debut there as a 16-year-old.

"Bryce rang this morning so the pressure was on," co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said.

The imposing two-length win by the four-year-old gelding by Flying Spur continued the super season by Team Hawkes, who took All Too Hard to stardom during the past few seasons before he was retired to stud.

"We have been training 50 or 60 winners a year but this is our 44th already this season," Wayne Hawkes said.

"We have some nice horses, mainly two-year-olds. We have won two-year-old races in Sydney in the past two weeks and then there are these older types who keep us ticking over. We have a good strike-rate, but as my dad (John) always says, you can't eat strike-rates."

However John could hardly complain when, within the half-hour, Mecir saluted in the Schweppes Handicap.

Laohu ($6) was taken to the front by apprentice Patrick Moloney and had too much of a lead for Prince Stratum, the $2.80 favourite, to run him down.

Finishing Card ($26) battled on for third, a half-neck away.

The win gave Laohu back-to-back successes after he fought on gamely to win at Bendigo six weeks ago.

He is one of only 17 in the Melbourne stable and he has matured and was never in doubt with the 2kg claim.

"It was only the second ride by Patrick Moloney for us and he was able to work to the front, give him a breather and then have enough to kick home," Wayne Hawkes said.

Prince Stratum, backing up from last week at Moonee Valley, settled at the tail of the field and worked around most at the corner to run on strongly.

Story: Herald Sun

Photo: www.slickpix.com.au