There are few I Am Invincible colts that look more like their sire than Hawaii Five Oh and he’s really starting to hit his straps for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable securing a start in next month’s the Group I BRC Stradbroke with victory in the $300,000 Group III BRC Fred Best Classic (1400m).
Previously trained by Michael Freedman, Hawaii Five Oh was transferred to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott after finishing second to subsequent Australian Derby winner Major Beel at Newcastle in a Class 1 race in February.
He showed his potential winning the Group III Hawkesbury Guineas last month and with a recent trial to keep him up the mark took another big step forward with this assignment.
Given a perfect ride by Nash Rawiller, Hawaii Five Oh set sail for the leaders after turning for home and did his best work on the line to beat boom local 3YO Yellow Brick by three-quarters of a length.
“He's the real deal. I'm proud to see what he's doing now. He's taken a little while to mature. There was something a little bit special to begin with and full credit to Gai and Adrian. Since he's gone there he's switched on mentally and you can see physically he's a beast,” said Nash Rawiller.
"Michael Freedman originally had him and really looked after him. Gave him the time he needed but he's really gone to the next level.
"He's making his own luck now. He sprung out of the gates today and he was straight into cruise control for me.
"We were following the right horse and it was just a matter of when to let him go."
Hawaii Five Oh has the overall record of three wins and three placings from seven starts with prizemoney topping $345,000 and is on track for the Group I BRC Stradbroke Handicap in two weeks time.
"That was the plan coming into today. He won nicely and has given us the confidence to push on to that race,” said Adrian Bott.
"He gets in well in the weights and should take improvement out of today.
"He's certainly a lovely horse. A beautiful physical type and imposing as we saw in the yard. Good to see him race up to it.
"We're in a fortunate position to train such a lovely horse. He's always had the ability. He had a great grounding before arrival. We can capitalise on that hard work done."
A homebred for Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud, Hawaii Five Oh runs for Harvey in partnership with John Singleton and Ray Hadley.
The colt is a full brother to ill-fated multiple Group II winning sprinter Libertini and is the second stakes-winner among five winners from Group I ATC Coolmore Classic winner Aloha.
Aloha had a filly by Ole Kirk last spring ad was then covered again by I Am Invincible.
Hawaii Five Oh looks a real rising star for Yarraman Park’s champion sire I Am Invincible, whose fee this season has been set at $302,500.
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