The much-hyped colt wasn’t weighed down by expectation as he strolled to an effortless victory in the G3 Quincy Seltzer Up And Coming S. on Saturday for Team Hawkes to earn favouritism for the G1 Golden Rose S.
North Pacific was immediately cut from $11 to $4 for the September 26 feature and in a season blessed with so many quality second-season performers, he is the centre of attention after such an authoritative performance.
The precocious youngster travelled comfortably in third spot before rider James McDonald angled into the clear before the turn and they were quickly in control of proceedings.
McDonald guided North Pacific to the outside fence and was in the fun zone over the closing 300 metres, drawing clear to win by an impressive 5.3l.
“James gave him a really good ride and he hit the line super. He’s only lightly-raced and he’s a lovely colt. We paid $800,000 for him in Melbourne and the owners Orbis have put their trust in us,” co-trainer Michael Hawkes said.
“James gave him a really good ride and he hit the line super. He’s only lightly-raced and he’s a lovely colt.” – Michael Hawkes
“They have been great supporters of ours of late and there’s a long way to go, but he’s an exciting colt.”
North Pacific was offered at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale by Bhima Thoroughbreds and is out of the unraced O’Reilly (NZ) mare Up In Lights (NZ). She is out of a half-sister to the four-time Group 1 winner Metal Bender (NZ) (Danasinga).
The colt showed his potential on debut last season when third in the G2 Silver Slipper S. behind subsequent G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) and following a break won at Rosehill last month.
“The heavy ground was a bit of a query and I honestly believe he is a better horse on top of the ground. He was far superior and is a lovely colt who does everything right,” Hawkes said.
“He’s just got the best demeanour and attitude. You've got to have that and they’ve got to be racehorses first so we’ve got another good one on our hands.”
Also in the Orbis ownership is stablemate Doubtland (Not A Single Doubt), currently an $11 Golden Rose chance, who won both of his 2-year-old starts last term and is due to trial next week.
“Doubtland is another Orbis horse and they are in the pole position at the moment. They have got two really nice colts. They're entrusting us with their livestock and we are trying to get the job done,” Hawkes said.
“Doubtland is another Orbis horse. They are in the pole position at the moment.” – Michael Hawkes
“Obviously today was a stepping stone. The Golden Rose is next for North Pacific and he is going to appreciate the 1400 metres back on his home track.
“We’ve kept him fresh and five weeks between runs and nothing worries this horse. He does it all on his own and he’ll definitely get better as he gets older, that’s for sure.”
McDonald said North Pacific was an outstanding prospect and could only improve through his preparation.
James McDonald
“I believe there is a bit to come and the Hawkes stable do a wonderful job with these colts and he’s no exception. He oozes class and swaggers around and executes brilliantly.
“Barrier one can be a hindrance at times, but I just got him in his comfort zone and even if I got held up he was good enough to win. He was pretty relaxed, got the splits and put them away with ease.
“He’s been very well-placed and developed into a beautiful-looking colt.”
The well-named Bazooka (Smart Missile) was a distant second ahead of Marsannay (Snitzel) while the second favourite and previously unbeaten Smart Image (Smart Missile) drifted out to a distant eighth.
Crusader doesn’t disappoint
Earlier in the program, North Pacific’s boom stablemate Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}) opened his campaign and while he was beaten, there was honour in defeat.
The bay had won his previous three starts before a spell and tried his best in the Schweppes H., but a combination of the very heavy ground and a race-fit Varda (Lonhro) relegated him to second by a long head.
“It was an unbelievable run after he was a bit slow. We’ve still got a long way to go, but he is an exciting horse and still on the way up,” Hawkes said.
He settled toward the back of the field and tracked Varda across the top, but was unable to reel in the James Cummings runner, who is a progressive type herself and now unbeaten in her last four appearances.
Masked Crusader’s rider Tommy Berry said Varda had sprinted too well at the top of the straight, but was more than happy with his charge’s closing 100 metres.
