Hawkes' Polish Knight move to Geelong to secure Cup berth

HALL of Fame trainer John Hawkes is continuing to pursue his Melbourne Cup ambitions with Polish Knight - but it won't be at Royal Randwick today.

Even without Polish Knight, trainer John Hawkes has a strong hand at Randwick with Leebaz and Ninth Legion.

HALL of Fame trainer John Hawkes is continuing to pursue his Melbourne Cup ambitions with Polish Knight - but it won't be at Royal Randwick today.

Polish Knight has been withdrawn from the Listed $100,000 City Tattersall's Club Cup (2400m) but will continue his spring carnival campaign in the Geelong Cup next Wednesday.

"We decided the Geelong race would suit him better,'' said Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his sons Wayne and Michael.

"If he can win at Geelong then we will look at The Lexus on Derby Day and if he wins that, then you are in the (Melbourne) Cup.

"It might be a bit 'pie in the sky' but we have got to keep trying.''

Polish Knight, runner-up in the ATC Australian Derby behind Ethiopia last year, is on the comeback trail after suffering a bleeding attack.

The five-year-old stayer has been unplaced in each of his five starts this spring but his form is better than it reads on paper including his luckless last start eighth - after missing the start by 10 lengths - in the Bart Cummings won by Araldo.

"He hasn't had a lot of luck,'' Hawkes conceded.

"The horse has done nothing wrong but it is hard when they come back from a bleeding attack.

"There has been some good signs at his last couple of runs so we will keep hanging in there.''

Even without Polish Knight, trainer John Hawkes has a strong hand at Randwick with Leebaz and Ninth Legion.

Team Hawkes can still make an impression at Royal Randwick today with two promising gallopers - Leebaz is attempting his fourth successive win in the Bartier Perry Handicap (1600m) while Ninth Legion is resuming in the Listed $100,000 Lightning Handicap (1100m).

Leebaz defeated Index Linked by two lengths when the pair clashed over 1550m on Randwick's Kensington track last start but there is a 2.5kg weight turnaround in Index Linked's favour today.

"It won't be easy to Leebaz but he is a nice, young horse, still learning,'' Hawkes said.

"This is a bit of a step up for him but he is a promising horse and the 1600m will suit him.''

Hawkes admitted he was unsure whether Leebaz would continue in training this preparation even if he maintained his winning sequence today.

"He is getting towards the end of his preparation, we might turn him out after this race,'' he added.

Ninth Legion is resuming from a spell after showing promise as a three-year-old with a second to Toydini in the Phar Lap Stakes.

Hawkes revealed Ninth Legion has been gelding during his break and believes the young sprinter is now capable of realising his full potential on the racetrack.

"He has drawn a little awkward but he's coming up well this time in and he should be competitive,'' Hawkes added.