Mcgrath estate

agents metropolitan

(group 1)

JOCKEY Blake Spriggs will be hoping for an Emirates Melbourne Cup start on Sir John Hawkwood following the pair’s victory in the 2,400-metre Metropolitan at Randwick on Saturday. “You just knew a long way out that he was going to be hard to beat because he had ridden him perfect. It was a Group 1 ride from a Group 1 jockey,” said trainer John Thompson, who was quick to praise former trainers David Vandyke and Peter Moody. “He might be a nine-year-old but he has been very well looked after.”

Winning by one and half lengths, Sir John Hawkwooddefeated the Shocking gelding Antonio Giuseppe, who was ahead of the Street Cry gelding Allergic.

The Irish-bred Sir Percy gelding is the fifth consecutive imported winner of the race and claimed a maiden Group 1 for himself as well as for Spriggs. “I knew he was good enough to win a Group 1 but I also knew we had to do it before I could start thinking about Melbourne,” said Spriggs. “Now we can start to think about that, which is always my dream as a jockey.”

A first acceptor for the Emirates Melbourne Cup last Tuesday, Sir John Hawkwood is presently 21st on the order of entry, having been penalised 1.5kg for the win, taking his handicap to 53kg.