Fabian Hawk coming up well and while Dids will welcome rain on Friday he’ll need the run

Trainer Peter Didham isn’t expecting too much from promising stayer Fabian Hawk when he resumes at Trentham on Friday.

Drawn the outside in the sixth race over only 1400 metres, with top weight of 59.5kg, Didham says it’s hard to see the horse winning in what is more likely to be more like “a trial for money”.

It’s four months since we’ve seen the progressive stayer compete, his three impressive wins over winter attracting plenty of attention from overseas scouts.

But, while Fabian Hawk’s wins were on soft 7, heavy 8 and heavy 10 conditions, Didham isn’t concerned by today’s good 4 rating at Trentham.

“It’s meant to rain in Wellington on Friday but he doesn’t need it wet, so long as he can get a toe into the ground.

“I do think he’ll go on top of the ground. He’ll let us know if he’s just a mudder if he goes three or four bad ones but I think he’s sharper and better than that.”

Didham says he’s delighted with the way Fabian Hawk has come up.

“The way he’s working is very encouraging and he’s trialled really well.”

In the latest of two trials on November 6, Fabian Hawk finished close up behind the placegetters in a strong 1200 metre heat at Woodville which featured talented gallopers Belclare and Callsign Mav.

“He had a good spell and I’m happy with his progress. Masa Hashizume will give him a nice run and that will bring him on.”

Didham says to take no notice of the horse’s final start at Awapuni in July when he ran last, because it followed three tough races on heavy tracks.

“You can only go so many runs on heavy tracks. He was gone 600 out and Parkes could have ridden him hard for sixth or seventh but did the right thing and looked after him.”

Fabian Hawk resumes with a tidy record of three wins from eight starts, only the first, over 1600 metres, shorter than a middle distance.