By Chris Roots
There is one thing missing from the family of Euro Angel – a group 1 victory, which she will try to remedy in the Saturday's Coolmore Classic at Rosehill.
Team Hawkes has had the whole family from Polish Princess and although they have performed well in stakes company, securing a win at the top level has proven a frustration.
Michael Hawkes is hopeful of a group 1 win on Saturday.Credit: Jenny Evans
"We have had them all. Polish Knight ran second in an Australian Derby, Leebaz was second in Doomben Cup and she is already a group winner," co-trainer Michael Hawkes said.
"It is a pretty fair family but unfortunately with the past couple of blokes a group 1 has eluded us but hopefully we can get there with her."
Euro Angel, a $200,000 buy at the Karaka sales in New Zealand, has only missed a place once in eight starts, winning on three occasions. Like many of the Hawkes' horses she has been given time to mature.
The stable targeted the Coolmore Classic with the mare and she gets to the race in the right form.
"She has probably been the best Rip Van Winkle to date. We knew the family and knew what we had and she was the right type for us to buy," Hawkes said. "She has been a progressive mare. She hasn't done a lot wrong. She just needed time.
"It has been a good ride so far and hopefully it might be an even better one after Saturday."
Euro Angel produced the best sectionals of the Millie Fox Stakes when resuming but was a fraction too far back in the run to test winner In Her Time. She is drawn to get the right run in the Coolmore from gate two.
"Her run first-up was really good," Hawkes said. "She is not a filly that you can put in a spot because she tends to over race. If we were able to do that last time she is probably winning but she ended up a pair too far back and the winner sat outside the leader and just sprinted home too well.
"There looks to be more pressure in this race, which helps and we will let her be where she is comfortable from the soft draw and I'm sure she can be hitting the line."
Team Hawkes also have Euro Angel's half-brother Leebaz in the Ajax Stakes but the most interest will be in the unbeaten Snitzel colt Ducimus in the Pago Pago Stakes. He would already be in the Golden Slipper field but the stable has opted to give him a look at Rosehill.
Ducimus won on debut at Ballarat before taking out the Talindert Stakes at Flemington before being sent to Sydney.
"He has come to Sydney and adapted well and keeps improving all the time," Hawkes said.
The ultimate racing form guide with free tips, live odds and alerts for all racing.