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Racing

Shared Sydney Cup goal for talented staying barn mates

Connections of former UK stayer Sam Hawkens face an anxious wait ahead of his scheduled return at Rosehill.

ATHABASCAN.
ATHABASCAN. Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

Trainers John O'Shea and Tom Charlton are sweating on a start for new recruit Sam Hawkens in the Parramatta Cup, although stablemate and fellow Sydney Cup-bound gelding Athabascan is safely in the field.

Formerly trained by William Haggas, Sam Hawkens is first emergency for Saturday's 1900-metre feature and Charlton is keen to get his campaign underway after some promising barrier trials.

"From the start of the week, it looked like every horse above him was going to accept and that's how it has panned out," Charlton said.

"It is what it is. If he gets a run, he'll run really well.

"He is an absolute gentleman and he's a horse we really like."

A winner up to 2800m in Europe, Sam Hawkens' only local appearance was in the St Leger Stakes (2600m) at Randwick last spring when he finished unplaced as favourite.

That was his final run for Haggas before joining the O'Shea-Charlton team and he has since had time to acclimatise to his new home.

The five-year-old has looked surprisingly sharp in two recent trials and while the Sydney Cup (3200m) is his ultimate goal, Charlton expects a competitive performance fresh.

"His best form in England was over a mile-and-a-half plus, so for him to trial sharply is great," he said.

"His riders, James (McDonald) and Zac (Lloyd), have been quite complimentary and are saying he'll be competitive over a mile.

"That gives us confidence he has come back well and he's going to be a horse for the future, especially when he gets out over a trip."

Stablemate Athabascan also has the Sydney Cup (3200m) as his autumn carnival goal with connections hoping he can make it third time lucky after finishing second to Circle Of Fire in 2023 and fifth to Arapaho 12 months ago.

"He seems as enthusiastic and happy as ever," Charlton said of Athabascan.

"He will improve from the run, but he can run a solid race and hopefully set himself up for some races down the line."


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