Shades of Super Impose, with all 12 of his opponents ahead of him coming over the Randwick rise, Hauraki sprouted wings over the final 300 metres to claim a last stride win in Saturday's $1million Group 1 TAB Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick while smashing the $2million barrier in earnings.
Godolphin's most likeable son of Reset rarely runs a bad race and he came into the Epsom with a victory in the Group II Tramway Handicap at his seasonal debut before running the Horse Of The Year Winx to a length and a quarter in the Group 1 George Main Stakes at his most recent start.
After been given a slap on the wrist by stewards for giving Astern too much to do in the Roman Consul Stakes, James McDonald obviously did not let that worry him as he gave Hauraki an ice cool ride from a tricky barrier.
So quick did he finish, Hauraki was only in the call when he poked his nose in front on the line, to defeat the David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained Dibayani (IRE) (Shamardal) by a half-head with Chris Waller's Mackintosh (Pins) a further long-head away in third.(photos Steve Hart)
"This preparation has been picture perfect," McDonald said.
"He is a strong horse and a strong-willed horse. There have been a few doubters of him but he is my favourite at the moment.
"At the 600 I was thinking this is going to be tough. The thing that helped me was Palentino stopping. That was the key to winning."
Trainer John O'Shea said; "We didn't even get to cheer because he came that quick.
"I can't believe it. I'll take it but I can't believe it.
"Mac (James McDonald) as always took the right option and we knew we had the horse right."
At three the son of Reset got within 2-lengths of Winx in the Group II Phar Lap Stakes before winning the Group II Tulloch Stakes.
The Godolphin
Last season he was placed behind Winx in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and to The United States in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m).
The 5yo gelding advances his overall record to 5 wins, 7 seconds and 2 thirds from 20 starts with earnings of $2,006,660.
A half-brother to three stakes-winners including the Group 1 South Australian Derby hero Kidnapped and Group II winner Academus, Hauraki is the ninth foal of the unraced Dehere (USA) mare Youthful Presence.
The pedigree page received a major update last year through the deeds of the champion European 3yo Golden Horn who's four Group 1 wins in 2015 included an Arc and an Epsom Derby.
The third dam of Golden Horn and fourth dam of Hauraki is the Habitat mare Loralane a half-sister to One Thousand Guineas heroine On The House.
Loralane's dam Lora is a three-quarter to Klairessa the dam of the great racemare Habibti and the even greater broodmare Eight Carat (GB).
Youthful Presence has a 2yo Sepoy filly named Nipotina, a yearling colt by Lonhro and was bred back to Lonhro last spring.
