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Magic Weekend spoiled Aeronautical's eagerly anticipated return at Rosehill this afternoon, collecting his fourth career win in the Benchmark 80 Hall Chadwick Handicap (1100m).
The Hawkes-trained gelding pushed forward early and hit the lead down the straight to hold off fast-finishing Canberra galloper Vilakazi Street, while the heavily backed Aeronautical took up his customary position at the tail of the field and didn't threaten against the older horses finishing a tame seventh.
Trainer Lionel Cohen had originally nominated the three-year-old in last Friday night's Canterbury Classic (1100m), but opted out of the listed race feeling he was poorly weighted.
Instead, last year's Rosebud winner kicked off his autumn preparations this afternoon, drifting well back and getting into a slight buffeting duel with Butt I'm Ready at the top of the straight before running home only fairly.
At the other end of the field, Magic Weekend followed his stablemate Stratford into the first-up winners' circle.
Stratford ran second to Magic Weekend in a trial earlier this month before winning easily on the Gold Coast last weekend.
“He's obviously coming off good trial form the stablemate going to Queensland and winning,” trainer Michael Hawkes said.
“I said to the clients earlier in the day probably Aeronautical's the horse to beat, he's the up and comer but you've got to be in it to win it.
“He did everything right. This bloke he's a professional, he's had his ups and downs and to the horse's credit, and Brenton [Avdulla] rode him great, it was a good performance.”
Hawkes left the tactics to Avdulla, and the talented jockey was happy to let the six-year-old slot in behind early leader Mighty Obvious.
“We were caught three wide and they weren't going that hard so I just elected to keep rolling forward with his momentum,” Avdulla said.
“I got across easy enough and was just hoping that the leader would kick on a bit because he seems to be a better chaser in his races.
“I just held onto him for as long as I could and when it was time to go I pushed the button and got a little bit old school on him.”
Hawkes said he didn't have any grand plans for Magic Weekend over the autumn and would likely give him the chance to keep progressing through his grades.
Aeronautical meanwhile may need a few runs to recapture the form which last campaign netted a fifth placing in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes(1200m), just one and a half lengths behind Foxwedge.