Never further back than fourth at his past ten starts, Sir John Hawkwood was rewarded for his consistency with a fighting win in Saturday's $750,000 Group I ATC McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick.
A positive ride by Blake Spriggs saw Sir John Hawkwood hit the front before the rise. He was travelling strongly and never flinched to repel the challenge of Chris Waller's progressive stayer Antonio Giuseppe (Shocking) by one and
Arriving in Australia with four wins from eight starts in Europe, Sir John Hawkwood was initially trained by Craig Ritchie, then Peter Moody before David Van Dyke coaxed the son of Epsom Derby winner Sir Percy to two stakes wins.
When Van Dyke moved to his operation to the Sunshine Coast, owner Paul Fudge sent Sir John Hawkwood to Randwick trainer John Thompson.
He made his first start for Thompson in the Group III Kingston Town stakes when third to McCreery on September 10, which was his first start since finishing second in the Group II Brisbane Cup in June.
In earning a first Group 1 win for his young rider and a first in Australia for the big spending Paul Fudge, Sir John Hawkwood advances his overall record to 8 wins, 6 seconds and 1 third from 28 starts with earnings of $1,097,843.
"I haven't had him long. I've just been listening to Blake who does know him well. He has done nothing but thrive in my stable," Thompson said.
"They told me to keep him fresh, Paul (Fudge) put in a plan to go second up into this. He ran well first up and has done nothing but improve since.
"We took him to Kembla Grange on Tuesday just to top him off and anyone who saw that gallop on Tuesday would have known he would run well today."
Naturally enough, Spriggs was elated to achieve his first success at the highest level.
"It's amazing. It's the best day of my life," Spriggs said.
"I linked up with this horse 18 months ago and he was mixing his form a bit. The boss said to me if you can get him going you can stick with him.
"I was very confident. I owe it all to Waratah (Thoroughbreds) and Paul Fudge. It is very much a team effort. The horse goes back to the farm and spends a lot of time there. Full credit to John (Thompson), it's never easy to get a horse in the stables for the first time.
"It was a bit of brilliance taking him down to Kembla on Tuesday. It goes to show what a master trainer he is."
A half-brother to Side Saddle (Saddlers' Hall), winner of the Group III Chantilly Prix de Royaumont, and Greek Renaissance (Machiavellian) winner of the Group III Newmarket Bentinck Stakes, Sir John Hawkwood is out of the Rousillion mare Athene who's stakes-winning dam Gay Hellene (Ela-Mana-Mou) is a daughter of the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Gaily (Sir Gaylord).
