Youth and experience blend beautifully for a winning combination in Hawkes stables

NINTH Legion won the Villiers and Invisible, Maysoon and Messene scored at Canterbury for the Hawkes stable.

James McDonald wins the first race at Canterbury on Invisible with a solid run.

THE Hawkes stable is on the march with Ninth Legion winning the Villiers and Invisible, Maysoon and Messene scoring at Canterbury on Saturday.

Looking at Michael Hawkes on Saturday I reckon he had the glint in his eye his dad had when Toltrice was winning 40 years ago. That's the difference these days - John Hawkes is still the great trainer he has always been, but he is giving youth a go to back him up and Michael and his brother Wayne are responding.

Don't get the idea Michael and Wayne are just labourers for their dad. John Hawkes is not an old bloke who won't let go. He is the overseer, but he is letting the two young blokes steer the ship and they are doing a super job.

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It was great to go racing at Canterbury on Saturday even if Wilf Mula was the only board member or senior executive of the ATC to experience it.

Racing at Canterbury is exciting with the horses easily visible and quick access to viewing areas with internal escalators, unlike the poorly designed new stand at Randwick, where the architects obviously copied football stadiums where people stay in the one spot all day.

Did you see any marketing prior to raceday for the Canterbury meeting? Of course you didn't. The powers that be don't want people there as it helps their argument when it comes time to sell.

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Blake Shinn's aggressive ride on I'm Imposing in the Summer Cup was one of the gun rides of the year and he followed it up with first rate performances on I've Got The Looks and Black Jag on Saturday.

Not quite so impressive was Shinn's ride on Reigning when he ran into a dead end when the early leaders Letchworth and Chestnut Road collapsed in the 1900m staying race.

Watch for Shinn, Brenton Avdulla and Nathan Berry to be the big movers in the jockey ranks in 2014. All three are top notch and all are riding with confidence.

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Two-year-olds put a boom on themselves very quickly, but the balloon can burst even quicker as the Magic Millions candidates Oakleigh Girl and Echo Gal showed at Doomben on Saturday.

I think this year's Millions is possibly the most open on record, lacking a little in class and with a lot of candidates sweating on the barrier draw to enhance their chances.

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I cannot believe the number of people who have contacted me to agree with me and lament the passing of the Villiers and Summer Cup days as a huge part of our racing landscape.

Now, these days are nothing more than an average Saturday meeting and an average midweek fixture. Gone are the days when the Boxing Day crowd rivalled that of the Epsom Saturday in the Spring.

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Kevin Moses joked that Rachael Murray opened up a bigger lead on his filly Medusa's Miss on Saturday than he used to on tearaway stayer Stylish Century or Cyril Small did on Vo Rogue.

The stipes rightly called Murray in for a chat after the sub standard ride as they did with Serg Lisnyy on Calming Influence at Randwick last month, but let's not forget Nash Rawiller on Almighty Charge at Rosehill and Glyn Schofield on Number One Gun at Randwick appeared to ride with similar lack of judgment. Rawiller's explanation was accepted and Schofield's case is pending.

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Watch for Joe Pride's Destiny's Kiss to make up for rotten luck in both the Villiers and the Summer Cup in the Tattersall's Cup at Randwick on Wednesday.

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RIDE OF THE DAY

Blake Shinn on Black Jag. Did well to avoid the riderless Druid and not throw away his winning chance.

RUN OF THE DAY

Invisible. A workmanlike display from a horse making his debut.

FORGET IT RAN

Reigning. Ran into a dead end and would have been in the finish.