Hawkes' high harness hopes
A FRIENDSHIP built on the Aussie Rules footy fields of Adelaide 50 years ago can deliver an unlikely win in the world’s richest harness race.
Hall Of Fame thoroughbred trainer John Hawkes and multiple premiership-winning harness trainer Geoff Webster first locked horns on the footy fields around Glenelg in the heyday of racing in Adelaide.
“John was a fiery little fella back in the day and I had to set him straight a few times,” Webster laughed.
They largely went their own ways for the next 20 years or so, both carving out fantastic careers in their chosen fields, until a mutual friend, Dominic Sita, brought Hawkes and Webster back together.
“Dom’s had (harness) horses with me for 35 years and we’re great mates. At the same time, he raced gallopers with Hawkesy. It was Dom who suggested Hawkesy join him in a pacer with me,” Webster recalled.
There’s been some nice horses and lots of wins along the way, but an untapped and hugely exciting three-year-old Seathestars – named after a former champion Irish thoroughbred – is the horse they’ve been waiting for. Sita is part of it, too.
He’s drawn ideally in gate one in Saturday night’s $2.1mil TAB Eureka and, in the words of Webster: “He’s got a great chance. He’s absolutely one of the main winning chances.”
Webster liked Seathestars from day one, but felt the gelding would improve with time, so nursed him just five starts at two for a win and three placings.
The reward? A three-year-old campaign so far which has seen Seathestars become one of the most exciting pacers in the land and, seemingly, still on the rise.
“We always thought he was good, but it was his huge run for fourth in the Queensland Derby (July 19), which showed us he’s even better than we thought,” Webster said.
“That sparked the idea of running him in the TAB Eureka, so then we set about trying to get a slot.”
Enter Daniel Cordina, who used his Cordina Racing slot to lock-in Seathestars.
“Two months ago, we hadn’t even thought about the TAB Eureka and now we’re in it, drawn perfectly and have a great winning chance.” Webster said.
Hawkes, who rarely goes to the big thoroughbred meetings these days, is heading to Menangle Saturday night with a big group of family and friends.
Fittingly, Sita is one of them. So too is Hawkes' son and co-trainer, Michael.
“I’ve always loved the trots. Jenny (Hawkes’ wife) loves them, too. We will often sit at home on a Saturday night after the (thoroughbred) races have finished and watch the trots,” Hawkes said.
“It’s a hobby. I just sit back and enjoy it. I leave everything to Geoff (Webster) and Will (Rixon, driver).
“I don’t know whether he’s good enough or mature enough at this stage to win it (TAB Eureka), but we’re going to get our chance from a super draw.”
Seathestars would be the first leg of a unique and extraordinary slot race double with Hawkes’ brilliant sprinter, Briasa, one of the favourites for Australia’s richest thoroughbred race, the $20mil TAB Everest.
