Melbourne trip planned

Press, 16 August 1989, Page 46

Melbourne trip planned

By DAVID MCCARTHY Tony Gillies, a trainer from Matamata, will take Street Hawk as a partner for Steely Dan when the former Two Thousand Guineas winner takes on Victorian assignments this spring. Steely Dan made a raid on the carnival last year, running fifth in the Manikato Stakes before winning the sAustl 00,000 Liston Stakes. He was placed in the Memsie Stakes behind Rancho Ruler after two more starts returned home.

His fifth placing in the

Manikato, behind Rancho Ruler, Special, Westminster and Kaapstad with Placid Ark and Vo Rogue behind him, came only a few days after he arrived in Melbourne. “I didn’t really want to run but there was a $2OOO scratching fee so we though we’d better,” said Gillies last week of the Manikato Stakes effort last year when Steely Dan was 50 to 1.

Gillies was pleased with Steely Dan’s first-up run at the Taumarunui meeting. He believed Street

Hawk earned an Australian trip with his effort in the Hawke’s Bay Cup in April. Street Hawk was the unlucky runner in that race running home strongly when clear just half a length and a neck from the winner, Eye Full.

“It was a top run. He shouldn’t be too hard to place in Australia but we are going to take our time and let him find his level. If he can match up to the best we’ll run him in the bigger handicaps,” Gillies said.

Street Hawk has 50.5 kilograms in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. His wins were in rather moderate fields last season but as a three-year-old the previous term he was placed in top company, including a third in the St Leger won by Mr Bunnythorpe and a second in the Avondale Guineas behind Weston Lea.

Street Hawk has come up in fine form according to Gillies and he could show to advantage in handicap company on the trip.