HOEBERG (Maroof x Petrava x Imposing) made her Australian debut in front of nearly ten thousand racegoers when she contested the $150,000 Group 2 WFA San Miguel Warwick Stakes over 1400 metres on Saturday 24 August at Warwick Farm, west of Sydney. Although HOEBERG finished unplaced, she did not disgrace herself and she will surely benefit from the weight-for-age experience. In the race, HOEBERG exhibited uncustomary speed and had a good blowout on return to the parade ring which augurs well for her immediate priority, the $560,000 (circa R3.3 milion) Group 1 Epsom Handicap to be run over 1600 metres at Royal Randwick on 5 October.

In the pre race parade, HOEBERG looked a standout. The sheen of her coat confirmed her general wellbeing, although she was far from 100% racing fit, having recently overcome niggling problems, the legacy of a tough campaign in Singapore and Dubai. She could have been forgiven for carrying a winter coat, particularly as winter in Sydney is more severe than that which she experienced at Summerveld and a far cry from the ongoing heat and humidity that she endured earlier this year when Singapore became her temporary home. However, there was not even a remnant of winter on her coat as she strode majestically around the parade ring.

The Warwick Stakes was devoid of any natural front runners, so I guess it was not totally unexpected when Rod Quinn aboard HOEBERG elected to safeguard their inside barrier position by being in the leading division for all bar 200 metres of the race, even though this did not suit HOEBERG's style of racing and contrary to what David Payne would have preferred. HOEBERG broke on terms and immediately occupied the forward role with two others racing abreast on her outside. After 100 metres, Rod Quinn eased her ahead as she continued, settled and composed, at a sedate pace along the first part of the 800 metres straight approaching a tight right hand bend that feeds into a final run in of less than 300 metres, without a false rail. With 1000 metres left to run, HOEBERG was joined by multiple Guineas winner of last season, CARNEGIE EXPRESS (Carnegie x Honeymoon Express x Star Way) who was being driven out on her outside, and for a moment, HOEBERG was fractionally headed. Quinn and HOEBERG accompanied CARNEGIE EXPRESS as the tempo quickened appreciably, and eventually edged ahead to lead the Gai Waterhouse trained gelding by about half a length, with the five main rivals all in contention directly behind. HOEBERG commanded the pack into the straight at a brisk pace, still maintaining her passage on the rails, but it was soon evident that the blistering speed in the middle part of the race, understandably, was beginning to take its toll as she had being doing all the hard work out front. Approaching the 200 metre mark, CARNEGIE EXPRESS again ranged alongside, but in a stride or two, the 1/4 favourite LONHRO (Octagonal x Shadea x Straight Strike), bidding for his ninth consecutive victory and who had whipped around challengers three wide from 600 metres out, asserted himself and looked poised take the honours, especially as second favourite, the five year old Group 1 winning gelding DEFIER (Dehere x Lilande x Marscay) had been pocketed and relegated to fifth after tracking HOEBERG and CARNEGIE EXPRESS in third into the turn. Darren Beadman on LONRHO was travelling easily inside 200 metres when DEFIER emerged as the only threat who still seemed to have it all to do with a deficit of 2 lengths to rein in. DEFIER's acceleration the concluding stages was devastating and under a sustained ride by jockey Chris Munce, he swooped on LONRHO to shade him on the post to win by the official margin of a short neck. REPUBLIC LASS (Canny Lad x Swift Seasons x Cox's Ridge) completed the trifecta while the 11 times victorious MR BUREAUCRAT (Bureaucracy x Explanation x County) was close up in fourth. 

Once HOEBERG surrendered her authority 220 metres from the winning line, Rod Quinn eased her down to a relatively easier pace and she finished 6 lengths behind DEFIER and LONRHO and 3.5 lengths and 2 lengths adrift of REPUBLIC LASS (winner of Group 1 AJC Oaks at her last start) and CARNEGIE EXPRESS respectively.

First section 600 metres (1400 metres to 800 metres) : 36.53 seconds

Second section 800 metres (800 metres to finish) : 45.32 seconds

Last 600 metres to finish : 33.98 seconds (the fastest of the eight race programme, including two Group 2 sprints)

To put HOEBERG's effort into perspective : she clocked approximately 1 minute 10 seconds for the first 1200 metres and a fraction over 58 seconds for the sectional 1000 metres from 1200m to 200m. I cannot recall her ever having run so fast in her life ! Afterwards David Payne commented that HOEBERG had a good blowout, to be expected under the circumstances, and she took the race in her stride, eating up well Saturday night and Sunday. It's not the way she prefers to race but its a start at a very competitive level".

1st : DEFIER   Chris Munce   13/2; trained by Guy Walter

2nd : LONHRO   Darren Beadman   1/4 favourite; beaten short neck

3rd : REPUBLIC LASS   Danny Beasley   18/1; beaten 2.5 lengths

4th : MR BUREAUCRAT   Alan Robinson   25/1; beaten 3 lengths

5th : CARNEGIE EXPRESS   Jim Cassidy   17/2; beaten 4 lengths

6th : HOEBERG   Rod Quinn   30/1; beaten 6 lengths

7th : RIVER TO ME   Lenny Beasley   300/1; beaten 15 lengths