Progressive
stayer Hanks has been on an upward spiral this preparation and hit top form at
Moonee Valley on Friday night to win the Listed MVRC Sportingbet Night Cup over
2500 metres.
The Peter Moody trained son of Encosta de Lago was ridden confidently by Luke
Nolen from barrier one, racing up on the pace under his big weight of 58.5 kg before
pulling clear in the straight to win by a length and a quarter.
A modest $150,00 purchase from the Curraghmore Stud draft at the 2008 NZB
Premier Yearling Sale, Hanks was bred in Australia at Coolmore and is the
fourth foal from unraced Sister Fromseattle (USA), a half-sister by champion
sire Seattle Slew to dual Group I winner and leading sire Dehere (USA).
Winner of the Group II MVRC AAMI Vase as a three year-old, Hanks (pictured www.stevehart.com.au) has the
overall record of five wins from 20 starts with prizemoney of $320,026.
Hanks is the sixth Australian stakes-winner this season for Encosta de Lago,
who has 17 yearlings catalogued for the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale next week.
Evergreen Stud Farm will offer the half-brother by Commands to Hanks at the2012 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale as Lot 531.