God Of Thunder has capped a successful afternoon for Hawkes Racing, giving them their third winner on the San Domenico Stakes program.
The four-year-old, whose dam Jolie Bay and granddam Legally Bay were both trained by the Hawkes team, was gelded before the start of his current preparation and connections appear set to reap the rewards.
After settling towards the back of the small field, God Of Thunder ($2.80) levelled up to Black Magnum ($3.80) in the straight then quickly put paid to the runner-up to score by two lengths with Spanish Dream ($12) a distance third.
Co-trainer Michael Hawkes is confident the horse can progress to better grade.
“We’ve trained the family and we went as far as we could with him as a colt then made the call to geld him,” Hawkes said.
“He’s really starting to put the writing on the wall now.”
God Of Thunder’s win followed earlier victories by boom colt Exceedance in the Group Three San Domenico Stakes and Greyworm in a support race.
They also produced Dawn Dawn for a win on the Memsie Stakes program at Caufield.
“It’s an exciting day for all our owners and especially the horses, they’ve all performed well,” Hawkes said.