Iron Hawk seeking late Easter treat
Iron Hawk (Written Tycoon) will go for three wins on the trot when he heads to Riccarton on Saturday where he will have his first tilt at stakes level in New Zealand in the Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m).
The ANZAC Day feature has been the key aim for the son of Written Tycoon since he joined trainer Lance Robinson’s barn earlier this year after being purchased by harness racing trainer Barry Purdon, and his wife Katrina, off Inglis Digital last December for A$70,000.
A $220,000 yearling, the now four-year-old had 11 starts in Australia for two wins and he was fourth in the 2024 running of the Gr.3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m).
He has been in red-hot form in his three starts in New Zealand, finishing runner-up on debut over 1200m at Riccarton last month before stringing together back-to-back wins at the Christchurch track over 1200m and 1400m.
Robinson couldn’t be any happier with his charge ahead of Saturday, with his only gripe being his wide barrier of 19.
“We are really happy with him, his work has been great,” Robinson said. “He has got a bit of a tricky draw, but it is what it is.
“This is the race we have had planned for him and we are really happy with where he is at and what he has done.
“He has done a really good job and he has just kept on improving with time too. I think if there is improvement off his last two runs, which I am sure there is, hopefully he can do the job on Saturday.”
“Everything is spot on apart from the draw.”
Purchased by the Purdons with November’s New Zealand Cup Week in mind, Robinson said Saturday’s run will give him a good gauge on which race he should target with his stable’s rising star.
“This is his last run, he will go to the paddock after this,” Robinson said. “We will get a good guide on what we target at the New Zealand Cup meeting with him.”
Iron Hawk won’t sport Barry Purdon’s famous silks on Saturday and will instead carry the ANZAC Day silks and if he wins LOVERACING.NZ and TAB will donate $1,000 to the RSA.
“He will carry the ANZAC Day colours, so hopefully they bring us a bit of luck,” Robinson said.
Robinson is hoping there will be a scratching in the race prior to Saturday so stablemate Bella Luce (NZ) can gain a start, with the local horseman keen to get the run into the daughter of Belardo ahead of next week’s Easter Cup (1600m).
“Hopefully she gets a run, her main aim is the mile the following week,” Robinson said. “The mile will be right up her alley and this will clean her up beautifully. She has been working really well too.”
Earlier in the day Robinson will also line-up Avoriaz (NZ) (Almanzor) in the ANZAC Day Lest We Forget (2600m).
The five-year-old daughter of Almanzor was victorious last month over 2200m before running seventh over 2000m, and Robinson is hoping she can bounce back to winning form this weekend.
“We tried her at the distance over Cup meeting, but it was on a rock-hard track and she just jarred up a bit,” Robinson said. “The give in the ground on Saturday will suit and I am confident she will run well.”
