Like Father Like Son in Hawkesbury Guineas

With his sire taking the prize in the 2016 Gr3 Hawkesbury Guineas, the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Ellsberg (Spill The Beans-Love Of Liberty, by General Nediym) is looking to continue the family tradition with the 3YO colt the current favourite for the 1400m event. Dominant last start when scoring by 3-lengths over 1400m at Randwick in the Listed South Pacific Stakes, jockey Tim Clark (who rode Spill The Beans to victory) will stick with Ellsberg from barrier four which should see him lead. Defeated by Ellsberg last start, Rainbow Connection (Choisir-Gaudeamus, by Distorted Humour), a half-brother to Hong Kong sensation Golden Sixty (Medaglia d'Oro), has drawn wide again but he is once again a likely contender, as is the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Exoboom (Exosphere-First Bloom, by Dylan Thomas), who is yet to finish outside the top two in his six starts to date. We could see Ellsberg follow the path of his sire, who headed to towards the Brisbane Winter Carnival where he recorded success in the Gr2 QTC Cup two starts after his Hawkesbury win.

Spill The Beans won the Hawkesbury Guineas (pic: Steve Hart)