By Glenn Davis
Trainer Les Kelly believes promising gelding Hacksaw Ridge can continue his progression through the restricted ranks at the Gold Coast on Wednesday.
Hacksaw Ridge will be chasing his third successive win when the four-year-old lines up in the TAB Benchmark 65 Handicap (1400m).
The Gold Coast track is currently a heavy 10 following persistent rain but Kelly is not concerned about his prospects on a rain-affected track.
“He’s going well at the moment and he loves wet tracks,” Kelly said.
“He should be really competitive again and I think he’s capable of eventually stepping up to Saturday class.”
Kelly bought Hacksaw Ridge at the Magic Millions sales on behalf of his owner Les Cowell but he won only one race in his first seven starts.
“Les sent him to Gerald Ryan after that but he only had one run for Gerald at Muswellbrook and was sent him back to me,” Kelly said.
In his first run back with Kelly, Hacksaw Ridge finished fifth in a Class One at the Gold Coast in March before stepping up in distance to win over 1400 metres on his home track on April 13.
A son of Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom, Hacksaw Ridge made it successive wins a month later when he overcome an outside draw to win a Class Two over 1400 metres at the Gold Coast on May 11.
“He’s drawn awkwardly but he races best up near the lead so I’m expecting him to lead in this,” Kelly said.
“He’s done everything right since he’s been back with me.
“He had a bit of a problem early in his career when he lost confidence after being galloped on one day when he ran third at the Gold Coast.
“He’s well bred so hopefully he can run further.”
Hacksaw Ridge is out of the unraced mare Synaesthesia which makes him a half brother to the Team Hawkes-trained Mentality, who won eight races and more than $2.14 million in prizemoney.
Mentality, a son of Flying Spur, won three Group 1 races during his career in the George Main Stakes at Randwick in 2008, Randwick Guineas in 2007 and Champagne Stakes at Randwick in 2006.
He also placed in another three Group 1 races during his career.
Racing Queensland webnews May 21
Photo: News Corp