Resuming on Saturday with a campaign aimed towards the $10m G1 ATC Golden Eagle, Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou’s 4yo Written Tycoon stallion Skyhook justified favouritism with a commanding win in the $300,000 G2 ATC Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill.
Third at this meeting last year in the G2 Run To The Rose behind Tempted, the multiple stakes winner jumped away swiftly from the outside barrier of 13 under Kerrin McEvoy, going forward to slot in fourth position behind Bjorn Baker’s Sandpaper.
Last start stakes winner Midnight In Tokyo wasn’t letting the leader get too far ahead while Richard and Will Freedman’s Magnatear was sticking closer to the fence getting a good run.
With Sandpaper leading the field into the home straight, the runs started to come and while Midnight In Tokyo didn’t have the necessary presence to quicken and chase the leader, it was left to Skyhook down the outside with Verona Rose even wider looking a challenger.
Taking over with 200m to run, McEvoy allowed Skyhook to go through his gears as the future stallion prospect accelerated away from the field to record his fourth black type victory.
Getting up along the rail late to finish in second was Magnatear, just in front of Gary Portelli’s stakes-winning mare Verona Rose who appears to have returned in fine form.
The 4yo is now on a path to clash with Saturday’s G1 Makybe Diva Stakes winner Sheza Alibi in the $10m G1 ATC Golden Eagle (1500m) on October 31.
“What if Sheza Alibi doesn't come for the Golden Eagle,'' Alexiou said.
“You never run away from one horse and the Golden Eagle has been our aim for some months now.
“Since his Brisbane campaign we have basically worked backwards from the Golden Eagle and we thought how we could get him there in his best form.''
While there is the option of the G1 Epsom Handicap, co-trainer Gerald Ryan feels that is very unlikely.
“There will be no Epsom,” said Ryan. “If he went to the Epsom he would have to run in the Shannon Stakes the Saturday before and I don't think he is a back-up horse.”
“We might look at the Alan Brown Stakes which is four weeks away so this means he could go to the Shannon in two weeks.
“But this horse has won Group races as a two, three and four-year-old now and the aim is to try and win a Group 1 with him.”
Having ridden Skyhook to win the G3 Gunsynd Classic in his final start at 3, jockey Kerrin McEvoy felt he has come back a much stronger horse this season.
“Behind the gates, he was walking around like he owned the place,” said McEvoy. “It's always a good sign for a horse moving forward in a preparation.
“His trials have been pleasing and it was a nice kick-off point today. We got into a good trailing spot, and he was able to produce a nice finish.”
With five wins and four placed efforts from 14 starts, Skyhook’s victory took his earnings past the $1m mark for connections.
A $575,000 Magic Millions purchase from the draft of breeder Arrowfield Stud, Skyhook races for a big syndicate of owners which includes Matthew Ennis of Stallion Match.
He is the second foal and first winner from winning Redoute’s Choice mare Madame Pauline, a winning sibling to G3 winner Anders and stakes winners Ostraka and Caffe Florian.
Madame Pauline foaled a colt by Castelvecchio on August 8.
Now a four time group winner, Skyhook is one of 82 stakes winners for the Yulong based Written Tycoon whose fee is currently listed a F.O.A.
