Chris Waller’s progressive colt Devil Hawk is set to firm in futures betting for next month’s 2015 Spring Champion Stakes this Sydney Spring Racing Carnival after an upset in Newcastle’s Spring Stakes on Friday.

Last year’s Spring Stakes winner Sweynesse (pictured) went on to run third in the Spring Stakes two runs later which is the likely goal for this year’s champ Devil Hawk. Photo: Steve Hart.

The nicely-bred Purrealist three-year-old is a younger brother to former Queensland Derby winner Hawkspur who is still racing for the Waller stable, and on Newcastle Cup Day Devil Hawk made his black-type debut in the $125,000 Group 3 Coca-Cola Spring Stakes (1600m).

A winner first-up at Canterbury over 1250m on August 12 to break his maiden status at his fourth run, last start Devil Hawk had excuses when beaten over three and a half lengths by stablemate Wudang Mountain in a BenchMark 72 over 1400m at Rosehill.

He was hampered at the start that day and caught up early ruining his chance of finishing closer to the winner who jumped favourite in the markets for the Spring Stakes rematch on Friday afternoon.

Tye Angland retained the ride on Devil Hawk ($13) in the Spring Stakes and let the horse settle towards the tail of the small seven-starter field travelling sixth in the early stages.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Clash Of Clans was allowed to roll along and out up front by his hoop James McDonald leading by up to five lengths at one stage.

Waller’s top fancy Wudang Mountain and jockey Hugh Bowman looked to be travelling sweetly getting the run in behind the pacesetter while the Bjorn Baker-trained Gold Ambition rounded out the field sitting last.

As they went into the home turn Clash Of Clans still had the lead with Beneteau gelding Tatoosh, coming off two good Group runs at Randwick including the second in the Ming Dynasty Quality on September 5, the widest on the bend.

Down the straight the leader tried hard but was eventually run down as the backmarkers came hard and fast in the closing stages including Devil Hawk right down the middle.

He turned it into a two horse race with the local Paul Perry-trained Tatoosh ($5.50) and his hoop McEvoy, Devil Hawk getting the bikkies on the line by about half a length while Gold Ambition ($7) finished off the trifecta coming from last to third down the outside.

“He done us all proud today,” a stable rep for Chris Waller, Analese Trollope, told the media post-win.

“He fought well to the line and he did well coming from the tail end of the field.”

Last year’s Newcastle Spring Stakes winner Sweynesse went on to win the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill next start before his credible third behind Hampton Court in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick.

That is the same path Waller could now take this year’s champ Devil Hawk down, the $200,000 Gloaming running on September 26 before $400,000 Spring Champion takes place on October 10.

Angland agreed it was a good Spring Stakes win from his mount on Friday and tipped Devil Hawk to improve as he went up in distance this campaign.

“It was a good win,” he said.

“He’s a horse that’s looking for further.

“That’s really going to improve him.”

Before the Spring Stakes results Devil Hawk was paying around $26 in the all-in Spring Champion Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, a market reshuffle now likely to occur after he beat home a number of others higher up those futures prices with his good Group 3 success.

To check out the updates and back Devil Hawk next race at the right price, visit Ladbrokes now!

2015 Spring Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Newcastle Race 4 – 18/09/2015