Winter wonder or genuine spring contender, King Of Hastings will likely be given his chance to answer that question when he takes aim at stakes level following his courageous win in Saturday's Super Vobis 2-Y-O Hcp (1200m) at Caulfield.
A member of the unstoppable team of two-year-old's, for Anthony Freedman, King Of Hastings was not the best to begin under Craig Williams but he found the back of the unbeaten Sizzlefly, who was forced to race three-wide. Peeled out to the centre of the track, the son of Ilovethiscity gradually wore down the game Sizzlefly (Sizzling) to win by one and a quarter lengths with the Listed Debutant Stakes winner Champagne Boom (Spirit Of Boom) running on strongly to be a further short-neck back in third. (image Grant Courtney)
After opening his career with an impressive win at Cranbourne, King Of Hastings went down fighting when narrowly edged out by Can't Be Done (All Too Hard) at Sandown.
Stable Forman Sam Freedman believes King Of Hastings has earned his chance at better races in the spring.
"He didn't leave the gates as well as we thought he would, but Craig did the right thing in getting some cover on him," Freedman said.
"He was a bit keen in the early stages, but he was too good in the end.
"He showed a different dimension today and hopefully he can go over a bit further.
"Anthony is away at the moment. I will get in touch with him later today and we will map out a plan for him but he has earned a chance at some nice races in the spring so we will get him back to Pinecliff and see how he pulls up. "
King Of Hastings was an inspired purchase by his trainer who shelled out just $32,000 to secure the son of the Group 1 Randwick Guineas winner Ilovethiscity at the 2018 Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
He is the second foal of the winning Danerich mare Handcut, whose first foal Appalachian, a full-brother to King Of Hastings, made an impressive winning debut at Balaklava in May for trainer David Jolly.
Handcut's dam Pentirara (Pentire) is a 3-time winning half-sister to the Group 1 SAJC Adelaide Cup winner The A Train and to the stakes-placed Instantly the dam of the Group III Newcastle Cup winner Stratofortress.
Handcut has a yearling colt by O'Lonhro and was covered by Ilovethiscity (Magic Albert) again last spring having not been served in 2017.
