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| Staff Writer |
In a thrilling upset that sent shockwaves through the Australian sprinting ranks, Airman stormed to victory in the Gr.2 Premier Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday. The A$41 outsider, trained by Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes, left several high-profile Gr.1 The Everest hopefuls in his wake, throwing the build-up to Australia's richest race into disarray.
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The A$1 million Premier Stakes, run over 1200m, was billed as a showdown between the last two The Everest champions, Giga Kick (2022) and Think About It (2023), alongside the "iron lady" of Australian sprinting, Bella Nipotina. However, the script was dramatically rewritten as Airman and star apprentice Zac Lloyd seized the moment.
"Why not?" Michael Hawkes declared post-race when asked about The Everest for Airman. "We've got no problems in talking to anybody. Look what he's just beaten; he's up there with them. He's proven he can do it."
In a tactically astute ride, Lloyd guided Airman along the rails to score by a head from Mazu, with favourite Bella Nipotina flashing home for third, a further head behind. The upset sent shockwaves through the ranks of the Gr.1 The Everest contenders, with several fancied runners failing to fire.
Giga Kick, the 2022 Gr.1 The Everest champion, could only manage fourth, while Think About It finished a disappointing sixth, seemingly undone by the slow early tempo.
Lloyd's belief in Airman was evident even before the gates opened. Hawkes revealed, "I've got to give Zac credit. Before the race, we talked about it, and as cocky as he is, he just said, 'Listen, we'll win this and get in The Everest'. I said, 'mate, go and do it'."
The young jockey's confidence was well-placed. "Most definitely, you've got horses like Think About It, Bella Nipotina, Giga Kick over six furlongs (1200m) and he's beaten them at set weights," Lloyd stated post-race. "So, you'd be silly not to think he would be competitive for sure. He's always had the ability; he's just needed to put it together."
The Premier Stakes has long been a key lead-up race to the Gr.1 The Everest, with Think About It the only horse to complete the double in 2023. However, other Everest winners have used the race as a springboard to success, including Classique Legend (2020) and Redzel (2018).
Hawkes confirmed Airman would return to Randwick in two weeks, either for the Gr.1 The Everest if offered a slot, or for the Gr.3 A$2m Sydney Stakes over the same course and distance.
The connections of the beaten favourites were left to ponder their next moves. Clayton Douglas, trainer of Giga Kick, hinted at equipment changes for the Gr.1 The Everest, suggesting blinkers might be added to sharpen the gelding's focus.
Jockey James McDonald remained optimistic about Giga Kick's prospects, describing the run as "OK" and adding, "A common run but he will improve. He is building toward something."
Think About It's performance was more concerning, with trainer Joe Pride admitting the race was a "train wreck" to watch. "They ran two seconds slower than he did in The Everest last year," Pride lamented. "It was a sedate (early) tempo and my instructions were to get cover on the horse. They have just gone so slowly in that race and I'm not huge on times, but Blind Freddie can see they have run home in about 33sec and he has no chance from there."
Despite the upset, there were positives for some of the beaten runners. Bella Nipotina's fast-finishing third impressed jockey Craig Williams, who said, "She was fantastic in defeat today. I love the way she is going. She stepped slowly, was ridden back off speed, and hit the line really hard."
Mazu, runner-up on the day, also drew praise from his connections. Chris Ward of Triple Crown Syndications noted, "Joe (Pride) has been very happy with the horse this spring, he's really going well. We would love to get a chance at The Everest again. The phone is on! But if not, we will go to the Sydney Stakes."
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Airman's victory capped a memorable day for Team Hawkes, coming on the heels of their earlier success with Swiftfalcon in the Listed Dulcify Stakes. The win was particularly sweet for part-owner Rupert Legh, famous for his association with the legendary Chautauqua.
Legh's blue and gold lightning bolt silks have become synonymous with Group One success in Australia, with Chautauqua standing as the best-ever to carry these colours. While Legh believes he may never see another horse as good as Chautauqua, Airman's Premier Stakes victory suggests the high-profile owner may have another top-line talent on his hands.
As the dust settles on a remarkable Premier Stakes, all eyes now turn to the A$20m Gr. 1 The Everest, set to run at Royal Randwick on October 19. With several fancied contenders failing to fire in the Gr.2 Premier Stakes, the race for the Gr. 1 The Everest slots has been thrown wide open.
Airman's connections will be hoping their charge has done enough to secure a start in Australia's richest race. If not, the Sydney Stakes awaits as a lucrative consolation prize.
One thing is certain: the 2024 edition of the Gr.1 The Everest promises to be one of the most open and exciting yet, with the form lines from the Gr.2 Premier Stakes adding an extra layer of intrigue to an already fascinating contest.