Winning Horse: Skywolf (Aus)

4yoG Akeed Mofeed (GB) - In The Gold (USA)(Golden Missile (USA))

7 starts - 3 wins 1 second 1 third 2 fourths $93040

Other Wins

1st Pakenham Gippsland Quarries (Bm64) 1200m (2022)

1st Pakenham Spendthrift Australia Mdn 1200m (2021)

Other Placings

2nd Sale Anthony Lee (Bm64) 1419m (2021)

3rd Echuca Hygain Mdn Plate 1209m (2020) (Debut Run)

Race Result:

1st: Skywolf (Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes/Jye McNeil) - $6

2nd: Jucconi (Tony & Calvin McEvoy/Madison Lloyd) - $3.70EF
3rd: Stretto (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace/Linda Meech) - $3.70EF

Winning Time: 1:18.96 Last 600m: N/A

Margins: Neck x 1 Length

Winning Trainer: John, Wayne and Michael Hawkes (Wayne speaking)

On his ability to handle wet tracks: “I said to Jye, ‘he’s got the biggest’ roundest feet you’ve ever seen’ and that normally equates to liking wet tracks. He’s got massive big feet this horse and he certainly handled it.”

On his background: “He’s just been very, very immature and, believe it or not, he’s had some feet problems. He’s over all those now and he’s just taken a long, long time to mature.

On the run today: “Jye thought he’d sneak a quick length or so and that’s what he did, he just got that quick break and then he just keeps going at that one bat. He’s got a quick short sprint.

“When you do that at the top of the straight - it’s a hell of a long way home when you’re in front at Sandown, you always want to be the horse sitting back hitting the line - but he judged it to perfection.”

On whether he might get further than 1300m: “I don’t think he needs to go much further but he probably would because he’s a such a lovely relaxed horse. He’s just a beautiful horse to have around, we all love him.”

Winning Jockey: Jye McNeil

On the key to victory today: “He was fortunate that we had a good barrier and that’s come into play over the final stages believe.

“We had those speed horses out wide that were able to let go and travel really strongly in behind them, we had a nice smooth run to get to the outside of them and then he let down fantastic through the wet going.

“When issued a challenge over the final stages he was able to really lift and get the win today, which was great.”