A good performance from Von Hauke (NZ) (Savabeel) in Saturday’s Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo would set the Cliff Brown-trained gelding up for another interstate trip.
Mornington-based Brown said a trip to Queensland is on the cards for Von Hauke, who is first scheduled to run in Victoria in Saturday’s 1600-metre feature at Bendigo after competing interstate in Sydney at his most recent start in the Gr.2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) second-up at Rosehill on March 15.
The five-year-old gelding finished second-last in the Ajax Stakes after racing keenly in the middle stages in an on-pace-dominated event, but he was doing his best work late and Brown believes there was merit in the performance.
“I thought he was very good in that race, nothing went right,” Brown said.
“I actually thought his last furlong was really good considering the run he had.
“He had a jumpout last week and he jumped out well.
“He’s in good order so I think he’ll run well.”
Von Hauke finished a close fourth in a five-horse jumpout over 800m at Mornington last Wednesday, which was won by Miss Icelandic but also featured Giga Kick, Tropicus and Ameena in what was a bunched finish.
“I thought he actually went really well,” Brown said.
Brown said the Golden Mile hadn’t originally been in his plans for Von Hauke this autumn but believes it can be a stepping stone to a Queensland campaign.
“I want to run him here and then we’ll go to Brisbane,” he said.
“We’ll just see how we go on Saturday, but providing he runs well, we’ll go to Brisbane and try to find a race up there.”
The trainer said he hasn’t got any Queensland races locked in yet but will look to find a suitable assignment for him.
He didn’t rule out the possibility of Von Hauke earning a crack at a Stradbroke Handicap if he really steps up.
“He could be (a Stradbroke horse), if he’s good enough,” he said. “But he needs to be doing it.
“I think he’s quite a nice horse where nothing has gone right.
“Even last preparation nothing went right. He was unlucky in the Crystal Mile (finishing fourth).
“He’d had enough in the Cranbourne Cup. He got trapped wide, but he’d had enough.”
Von Hauke was among 26 nominations released on Monday for Saturday’s A$200,000 Golden Mile and Brown said Jamie Mott will take the ride.
“I think he’s in a really good spot,” Brown said of Von Hauke, whose most recent win came in the Gr.3 Shaftsbury Avenue Handicap (1400m) at Flemington 13 months ago.
