i'm a huge fan of wayne and john hawkes but wayne has let himself down terribly with his comments. he question's northerly's champion status. 2 cox plates, a caufield cup, 2 australian cups. enough said on Northerly. Hawkes says Northerly's inability to win over short trips makes him inferior. he has won from 1300 to 2400(with 58kg in caufield cup). Hawkes' so-called champs win first up. so what. lonhro couldn't get within 7 lengths of him in the cox plate. freemason an admirable tough war horse only beat him because of patrick payne's woeful ride. Hawkes' champ lonhro i doubt would run 2400. does this not make him a champion? horses can be champion's over their specialised trip. saintly wasn'tmuch of a sprinter but is still a champion. I put it to wayne hawkes and other doubters that if hawkes trained Northerly to 2 cox plates etc etc and 18 stakes wins of his 19 wins that he would be the first to say what a champion Northerly is. Wayne your comments are a disgrace! sour grapes wayno?

[ This Message was edited by: umrum on 2003-07-07 13:04 ]