Trainer Kris Lees and jockey Kerrin McEvoy praise front-running display of progressive sprinter Hawker Hall
Hawker Hall made speed the weapon at Rosehill with connections now weighing up a trip to the Gold Coast next month for the Magic Millions Snippets.
Let fast horses be fast.
That philosophy delivered a fourth win for Hawker Hall in the Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap at Rosehill Gardens on Sunday.
The son of Russian Revolution covered the 1100 metre journey is a blistering 1.03.44 when leading throughout in the Benchmark 88 contest.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
“He’s a fast horse so it makes sense to use his best asset,” winning trainer Kris Lees said.
“He’s progressive and getting stronger all the time.”
Hawker Hall ($2.35 fav) defeated Crepe Myrtle ($2.60) by a longneck with a short-neck back to the perennial placegetter Dollar Magic in third.
“He got around the corner pretty well and fast horses sometimes find the turn out of the chute a bit tricky,” winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy said.
“He wanted to lay out a bit up the running which surprised me because he was so tractable around the corner.
“The ground is getting quicker all the time and maybe it was a bit firm for him and that’s why he laid out.
Hawker Hall leads all the way and just holds off some fast finishers to win at Rosehill for @Leesracing! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/L8RcaOhuWc
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 7, 2025
• Autumn verdict in on high-priced filly Plaintiff
“Coming to the line he’s had enough. I could hear Andrew (Atkins) roaring at his filly (Crepe Myrtle) but I always thought I was going to hold it off.
“He did a bit wrong but was able to get the win so that’s always a good sign.”
Lees said Hawker Hall is eligible for the Magic Millions in January being a 2023 Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate and the Magic Millions Snippets over 1200m could be an upcoming target while with further progression he wouldn’t rule out the Group 1 Galaxy in the autumn.
“The 1200m might be a query but he’s a Magic Millions yearling so you have to look at it,” he said.
“I’ll probably find another race in two weeks and then look at it a fortnight later.
“The horse is on an upward spiral so if he continues to head in the right direction, he might even be a lightweight Galaxy chance come late March.”
Originally published as Trainer Kris Lees and jockey Kerrin McEvoy praise front-running display of progressive sprinter Hawker Hall
Hewitt’s stable stars primed for Summer of Glory
