MULTIPLE group 1-winning trainer Mick Price will join forces with leading provincial jockey Daniel Moor for a hit-and-run mission aboard Hawking in tomorrow’s $25,000 2YO Jack Maher Classic (1200m).
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Moor has two mounts at Caulfield today which are both trained by Price and will make the trek to Wodonga tomorrow to ride Hawking.
Price targeted the Jack Maher Classic for the first time last year with Run Along, who finished seventh behind the Robert Smerdon-trained and Darren Gauci-ridden Jade’s Boy.
Hawking is one of seven horses with previous race experience in the final field comprising 11 runners.
The Street Cry colt is easily the best-credentialled of the raced brigade after having finished sixth in the group 2 $220,000 VRC Sires Produce Stakes at Flemington at his most recent start in March.
Hawking, who resumes from a 20-week spell, is also the only juvenile to have previously scored after having won a Geelong maiden in February.
Nearly half the field comprises locally-trained horses with Brian Cox (Magic Babe Ning, Westbury), John and Chris Ledger (Thiseldo), Sylvia Thompson (Uncle Tiger) and Brett Cavanough (Alice From Albury) all having runners.
Cox is chasing his sixth victory in the Border’s richest juvenile race after previous wins with Sumakaray (2012), Cool Azz (2002), Maid In Monaco (1999), Fais D’or (1998) and Jacoby (1995).
Both Cox gallopers are unraced and have trialled publicly this month.
Magic Babe Ning finished last in a trial at Tatura while Westbury finished fifth of seven runners at Wagga.
“They both trialled on a heavy track so it was hard to get a gauge on their chances,” Cox said.
“The track is likely to be rain affected again so I won’t know until after the race if they handle the going.
“I will just keep my fingers crossed and hope they do.
“My biggest advantage heading into the race is that it’s in my own backyard and I don’t have to travel.”
Magic Babe Ning is owned by the same interests as Sumakaray while Westbury is owned and bred by long-time stable clients John and Helen McPhee.