The Gary Portelli-trained debutant Iron Hawk dealt punters a blow in the Schweppes Maiden Plate (1100m) at Warwick Farm but ended the season on a high for Written Tycoon, the soon-to-be-crowned Champion 2yo Sire in Australia and New Zealand.
Ridden by Reece Jones, Iron Hawk was among the tailenders turning for home but found the fast lane hard against the fence to defeat Kementari’s and Telperion’s half-brother Silmarillion (Too Darn Hot) by three-quarters of a length with the $950,000 I Am Invincible filly Qatar’s Choice back in third.
Bred by Rifa Mustang, Iron Hawk was purchased for Trilogy Racing from the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $220,000.
The son of Written Tycoon prepped for his debut with five barrier trials.
“It’s good to get a number one up for the Trilogy team, who have entrusted me with some really nice horses,” Portelli said.
“This horse has been difficult to get to the track. He has been shin sore a few times – has a lot of ability, but does a lot wrong.
“I was concerned he was not putting it together and he was on the list for the vets, but the way he won today there might be a nice race in him. There is plenty of upsides because he does not know what he’s there for yet.
“What we see at home and what we see at the trials are two different things. He runs anything in trackwork and trials like a busted. The trackwork turned up today.”
Iron Hawk is the second winner from four to race for the Catbird mare Lady Dynamo, a stakes-placed winner of five from the family of top-class filly Stage Hit.
Lady Dynamo, a $5,500 Inglis Digital purchase for John Bannister, has a yearling filly by Zousain and a weanling filly by North Pacific and was covered by Captivant last spring.
Iron Hawk is the 23rd 2yo winner of the season for Yulong's Written Tycoon, 19 in Australia and four in New Zealand.
