Mike de Kock’s star 3yo Hawwaam put the cherry on top of a R7,2 million Pick 6 prize at Turffontein on Saturday when he streaked clear to an impressive victory in the R4 million Gr1 Premiers Champions Challenge.
The 3yo, who had social media and the chat forums buzzing after his shock withdrawal prior to the SA Derby last month, stamped himself a colt with a bright future as he drew off to beat stablemate Cascapedia by an unpressured 4 lengths.
Hawwaam, who started a red hot odds-on order, was always in a good position and he won his biggest prize to date amid roars of approval from the festive Champions Day crown.
“I don’t often get to say this but I’m at a loss for words,” remarked new jockey Anton Marcus on his return to the winner’s enclosure. “That really was impressive.”
Trainer Mike de Kock was a little more conservative.
“Look, Hawwaam only beat a 107 and a 105 today we’d like to see him against a stronger field. There was a bit of pressure on today, it’s never easy for a three-year-old to take on older horses at weight for age. Well done to the programmers, who moved dates so we could see a top three-year-old against the older ones, it’s a spectacle everyone likes to see.”
The multiple champion trainer will be hitting the East Coast soon.
Hawwaam and stable companion Soqrat, who ran a fast finishing fourth in Friday evening’s KRA Guineas, will be entered for the Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge, the Gr1 Champions Cup and the Gr1 Daily News.
“We’ll be looking at the draws. Greyville has become a bit of a go-cart track. We made a mistake on Friday evening with Soqrat from a wide draw in the KZN Guineas and we won’t make the same mistake again,” said De Kock
Hawwaam won unextended by 4 lengths in a time of 124,13 secs.
The good mare Cascapedia tried her heart out in second, with the vastly improved Divine Odyssey a further quarter length back in third.
The 2016 champion Legal Eagle made up lengths from last to stay on into fourth.
A R1 million National Yearling Sale graduate, the half-brother to Sun Met winner Rainbow Bridge -who ran such a cracker in Friday evening’s Drill Hall Stakes – Hawwaam was bred by Mauritzfontein & Wilgerbosdrift, and is a son of multiple champion Silvano (Lomitas) out of the seven-time winner, Halfway To Heaven (Jet Master).
He took his win total to 5 from 6 starts with 1 place and stakes of R4 378 125.
Hawwaam went in rated a 121 – where to now?
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Gr1 The Premier’s Champions Challenge (SAf-Gr1)
Turffontein, South Africa, May 4, R4 million, 2000m, turf, good, 2.04.87
1 – HAWWAAM (SAF), 57.5, b c 3, Silvano (GER) – Halfway To Heaven (SAF) by Jet Master (SAF). Owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum; Breeder Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein; trainer MF de Kock; jockey A Marcus
2 – Cascapedia (IRE), 57.5, b m 5, High Chaparral (IRE) – Janoubi (GB) by Dansili (GB)
3 – Divine Odyssey (SAF), 60.0, b g 4, Oratorio (IRE) – Divine Right (SAF) by Dynasty (SAF)
Margins: 4.00, 0.25, 0.95
