Canterbury preview: Team Hawkes debutant Confiscate to bring back memories of former smart galloper

Hall of Fame trainer John Hawkes had reason to reflect on his glory years at Crown Lodge more than two decades ago when juvenile Confiscate first came into his stables.

Hawkes has previously prepared a talented sprinter with the same name for owners Jack and Bob Ingham when he was their private trainer based at Warwick Farm.

The Confiscate of yesteryear was by legendary New Zealand sire Sir Tristram and had 52 starts, winning 13 races including five at Group 3 level and earning nearly $600,000 prizemoney before he was retired in 2001.

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The John Hawkes-trained Confiscate (pictured) shares his name with a Hawkes Racing-trained two-year-old who makes his debut at Canterbury on Wednesday.Source:News Corp Australia

“Confiscate was a very good horse, he won some nice races during his career,” Hawkes said.

“I’ve trained a few over the years with the same name but it is unusual.

“The names for most of the superstars like Winx are protected and can’t be used again but for horses like Confiscate, I think after about 12 years the name can be used again.

“This two-year-old goes OK, he is nothing special but he should run a good race.”

The new version of Confiscate makes his debut in the Vinery Stud Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Vinery Stud has retained a share in Confiscate, who is by one of the stud’s leading stallions, Star Turn. Alan Bell, who raced Star Turn with Team Hawkes, is also a part-owner of the two-year-old.

Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his sons Wayne and Michael these days, has given Confiscate two barrier trials to prepare for his race debut with the gelding showing promise when a close second at Warwick Farm on the synthetic track 12 days ago.

Tommy Berry has the ride on Confiscate and he will also partner another Team Hawkes-trained two-year-old first-starter, the filly Marooniyah in the Microphone at Darley Handicap (1250m).

Powerful sprinter Star Turn is the sire of Confiscate.Source:News Corp Australia

Marooniyah, a daughter of Sebring, has also had two barrier trials this month and Hawkes rates the filly’s chances as “competitive”.

Hawkes felt three-year-old Electric, another Berry mount, was one of the stable’s better winning hopes at Canterbury when he contests the Bowermans Commercial Furniture Handicap Plate (1250m).

Electric ran well on debut when a close third to Savoir Faire and Hawkes said the gelding, although a slow maturer, will continue to improve with more experience.

“He’s a nice horse, he’s still not there yet and will be better next time in,” Hawkes said.

“He has drawn a terrible gate in the small field so he needs a bit of luck.”

The Hawkes stable thought enough of Eight Diamonds to start her in Group 1 company earlier this year when she ran down the track behind Forbidden Love in the Surround Stakes.

Eight Diamonds resumes in the China Horse Club Handicap (1200m) and is trying to repeat her first-up win at Canterbury last preparation.

Tommy Berry has four rides for Hawkes Racing at Canterbury including Confiscate and Marooniyah. Photo: Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

“The soft ground gives Eight Diamonds her chance, she will handle the wet track conditions,” Hawkes said.

“The one gate is not ideal as she might get back a bit so a lot will depend on how Canterbury is playing. Sometimes the inside is no good, sometimes it’s OK – we just have to wait and see on the day.”

Team Hawkes end the Canterbury program with Yukon in the TAB Handicap (1550m).

Yukon had won two of his four starts but blotted his copybook missing a place for the first time in his career when resuming at Randwick.

“He didn’t have any luck first-up,” Hawkes said. “He’s trained on well but he’s never seen a heavy tack so we are bit unsure how he will handle it.”

Hawkes also confirmed smart sprinter Bandersnatch will chase his second stakes win when he lines up in the Listed $150,000 Civic Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Bandersnatch won the Carrington Stakes over the Randwick 1400m course back in January and has been improved by two runs from a spell. The Hawkes-trained sprinter has 55kg for the Civic Stakes where Godolphin’s Ranier is topweight on 59.5kg.

WALLER ON TRACK TO CRACK 150 METRO WINS

Chris Waller can raise the bat for 150 city wins this season at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Sydney’s leading trainer has competitive chances in four races as he looks to improve on the 148 metropolitan wins he has prepared so far in 2020-21.

There are 12 Sydney meetings remaining this season and it is a matter of when, not if, Waller will break the 150-win barrier.

Waller has already prepared at least 150 Sydney winners in a season a record six times previously including the all-time high 189 winners he trained three seasons ago.

The 10-time premier trainer opens his “innings” at Canterbury with first starters Minsk Moment and Sword Point lining up in the Vinery Stud Handicap (1250m).

Both two-year-olds have trialled well leading into their debuts runs with Minsk Moment so impressive he has been installed as the $2.60 favourite in overnight TAB Fixed Odds betting while Sword Point is at $7.50.

Champion trainer Chris Waller is on the verge of breaking 150 city wins for a seventh time. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

Champion jockey James McDonald rides Minsk Moment and is also booked for the Waller-duo, Barrichello in the Bowermans Commercial Furniture Plate (1250m) and El Buena in the China Horse Club Handicap (1200m).

Barrichello is on the second line of betting at $2.80 after two competitive Canterbury runs to begin his race career including his close last start third a fortnight ago.

El Buena ($6) has been freshened up since his unplaced effort at Kensington on Anzac Day but Waller has given the three-year-old a tick-over trial to ready him for the Canterbury race.

Waller has Kutayha ($3.20 favourite) and Macushla ($19) entered for the XXXX Handicap (1900m).

Kutayha is on the quick back-up after his game third to stablemate No Compromise at Rosehill last Saturday and Kerrin McEvoy has retained the ride.

McEvoy has also been booked to ride the Waller-trained Nudge in the final Group 1 race of the season, the Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Waller, who has prepared 15 Group 1 winners this season, will also saddle up Subpoenaed and Madam Rouge in the big race.

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Originally published asCanterbury preview: Confiscate can seize a debut win

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