Maluckyday Possible Cups Contender

The son of Zabeel, owned by Nick Moraitis and trained by John Hawkes along with his sons Michael and Wayne, took out the Soho Square Handicap (1400m) and is being prepared with the major spring Cups in mind.

Maluckyday sat just behind the speed with Jim Cassidy in the saddle and got right away in the run to the line to win the Benchmark 70 event by 1-1/2 lengths.

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes said Maluckyday had given every indication he was a carnival horse who would continue to improve.

"He's above average and showed last time in that he's got something," Hawkes said.

"He is still immature but he's taking the right steps. He's in the Cups, he's got to get there yet but he will tell us."

Maluckyday only had three starts as an autumn three-year-old, winning over 1600m at Hawkesbury at his second race appearance before highlighting his potential when third to Count Encosta and Descarado in the Group Two Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.

Full story from the Herald Sun here