Cliff Brown and his stable team have dedicated considerable effort to ensuring Von Hauke develops into a calm and manageable racehorse.
In his earlier racing days, Von Hauke exhibited a tendency to rush his races, but with increased maturity and diligent training, the gelding has become considerably more compliant.
However, this progress was nearly undone during a recent Mornington jump-out, where Von Hauke reverted to his old ways, eager to break free and run.
Brown expressed his disappointment at Von Hauke’s return to his previous behaviour, though the Mornington-based trainer found encouragement in the gelding’s final piece of trackwork.
“Briar Stobie rode him in his last bit of work, and he was a bit keen early, but then he came back under her really well,” Brown said.
“She said to me, ‘I’m worrying about nothing’, which was good to hear.
“She knows him back-to-front.”
Following a sixth-place finish in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 19, Von Hauke is set to return to Caulfield on Saturday for the Toorak Handicap (1600m).
Two starts prior, Von Hauke secured a placing in the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm, and Brown is confident the gelding possesses the ability to win a significant handicap race in the future.
Nevertheless, Saturday’s draw of barrier 11 presents a notable challenge.
“The barrier is a bit sticky,” Brown admitted.
“For him, he’ll get back, and you have to hope they can make ground, but he’s capable of winning one of these races one day.
“He’s done nothing wrong, his first-up run was excellent, as were several in it too.”
Brown has entrusted Von Hauke to his reliable assistants Mason Stevens and Kahlia Kaminski on Saturday, as he will be in Sydney to oversee Sepals in the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.
Sepals finished behind Angel Capital in the Sir Rupert Clarke at Caulfield first-up, a performance where Brown noted the gelding’s fitness waned in the latter stages.
“He needed the break after Brisbane, and he would have only had a couple of weeks off if I wanted to run in the Memsie,” Brown explained.
“That month off he did so well, but his fitness blew out in the final stages last time.”
Similar to his stablemate, Sepals faces a challenging barrier draw on Saturday, but the 1400m race is intended to prepare him for either the Champions Mile at Flemington on the final day of Melbourne Cup week or the CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield the following week.
“I needed another 1400-metre run, so that’s why I’ve brought him up here,” Brown stated.
“Trip up and a trip home, plus the run, that will help him and he might have a jump-out before his next start.”
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