Hawaii Five Oh staves off his rivals in Fred Best Classic

[Wandering Eyes]

Hawaii Five Oh claims Group 3 Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm. Photo: Darren Winningham

Nash Rawiller has combined with co-trainers Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, bolting clear in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic aboard Hawaii Five Oh at Eagle Farm.

The win makes it back-to-back Group level successes after taking out the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas on April 22, and can now see this progressive son of I Am Invincible press on to bigger things throughout the winter carnival.

It was a perfect steer from Nash Rawiller finding the leaders-back from barrier nine, before producing Hawaii Five Oh’s scintillating turn-of-foot late to score an impressive win.

Yellow Brick ($2) was the well-supported favourite with online betting sites, and lost no admirers running into second position after a checkered passage, while End Assembly ($71) gave a massive sight for followers at a monster price securing some minor money.

It’s all about the winner however, as Hawaii Five Oh has now booked his ticket to the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap in two weeks’ time and co-trainer Adrian Bott gave every indication post-race that would indeed be next on the agenda.

2023 Fred Best Classic Replay – Hawaii Five Oh

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“That was the plan coming into today,” said Bott.

“He won nicely and has given us the confidence to push on to that race (Stradbroke).

“He gets in well in the weights and should take improvement out of today.

“He’s certainly a lovely horse. A beautiful physical type and imposing as we saw in the yard. Good to see him race up to it.”

He then spoke to the confidence building this horse is starting to put together throughout the campaign since booking Nash Rawiller.

“Nash was confident throughout the run, you could see,” said Bott.

“He went out there open minded where he was going to be. He showed really good gate speed today and put himself up.

“Nash was able to let him find a nice rhythm and was able to get out at the right time and he was strong late.”

“He’s racing with a bit of confidence and it is fantastic to see.”

Nash Rawiller was glowing about his three-year-old colt in his post-race assessment, crediting the Waterhouse & Bott stable for their handling of Hawaii Five Oh.

“He’s the real deal,” said Rawiller.

“I’m proud to see what he’s doing now. He’s taken a little while to mature. There was something a little bit special to begin with and full credit to Gai and Adrian.

“Since he’s gone there he’s switched on mentally and you can see physically he’s a beast.

“He’s making his own luck now. He sprung out of the gates today and he was straight into cruise control for me.”

Hawaii Five Oh is now a $5 on the second line of betting with most online bookmakers for the Stradbroke Handicap on June 10.

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