Sir John Hawkwood trainer John Thompson daring to dream of Melbourne Cup success

MELBOURNE Cup hopeful Sir John Hawkwood produced such a brilliant track gallop it even had his trainer doing a double take.

Sir John Hawkwood.

MELBOURNE Cup hopeful Sir John Hawkwood produced such a brilliant track gallop it even had his trainer doing a double take.

Sir John Hawkwood, winner of The Metropolitan earlier this spring and a $35 fancy for the Cup, had just completed a strong workout at Flemington on Tuesday morning when trainer John Thompson checked his stopwatch.

He had the stayer running his final 400m in a tick over 22s. He could scarcely believe his eyes.

Thompson turned to Flemington clocker Warren Huntly for verification.

“I’ve got him running 22.3s,’’ Huntley confirmed.

There were some brilliant times being recorded at the Flemington trackwork session on Tuesday but for a stayer being prepared for the exacting 3200m of a Melbourne Cup in less than a week to run such stunning closing sectional was quite outstanding.

Thompson conceded Sir John Hawkwood has really thrived since his 10th to Jameka in the Caulfield Cup last start.

Sir John Hawkwood can give the Cup a shake.

The trainer was so disappointed with Sir John Hawkwood’s effort that day he virtually put a line through Melbourne Cup plans.

But the stayer’s progress since the Caulfield flop and the trainer’s own analysis of the gelding’s form has prompted a change of heart.

“I think getting Sir John Hawkwood back to Flemington is the key,’’ Thompson said.

“His form at Caulfield is horrendous but he does like Flemington. After his last start, we gave him a week at Waratah and he has come back a rejuvenated horse.

“I couldn’t be happier with the horse now, it was a very, very good gallop (Tuesday morning) and he won’t need to do a lot between now and Tuesday.’’

Thompson had more reason to enjoy the morning trackwork session, and not because the weather was much milder in Melbourne than the near Arctic-conditions that swept the city last weekend.

The trainer watched on from the grandstand as his glamour mare First Seal tuned up for the Group 1 $500,000 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday with a strong workout on the course proper with stablemate and race rival Zanbagh.

“First Seal worked better than Zanbagh but I expected that — she is a special mare,’’ Thompson said.

“This is a mare that did beat Winx earlier in her career and although a lot of water has flown under the bridge since then.

“She has had her problems since but her feet are good now and I feel she is getting back to her best.’’

Thompson did throw a nomination in for First Seal in the Group 1 $1 million Cantala Stakes (1600m) on Saturday but the trainer confirmed she will be reserved for the Myer Classic against her own sex.

“I thought about the Cantala Stakes but this (Myer) is the right race for her,’’ he added.

“She has been building nicely through her preparation and she has improved since she won at Caulfield.

“Tony McEvoy’s mare (Don’t Doubt Mamma) is racing well and it will be a tough race to win but the Sydney form has been the strongest all spring.

“I can’t have First Seal any better — it is good to have her back.’’