Team Hawkes have set a long-term goal for Happy Galaxy with the Hong Kong International Raceday the target for the classy sprinter who resumes in the Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Happy Galaxy is set to fly the Aussie Flag in Hong Kong. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia

The Nadeem colt burst into the conciseness of the Australian racing public at the start of this year with a string of impressive victories that culminated in his win in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm in February.

Team Hawkes has been very patient with the three-year-old and will once again play the long game as they build towards the Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m) in December although Wayne Hawkes suggest today that the $1 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) could also be on the agenda.

“He may have two or three runs, maybe with the Manikato and then we might give him a break and then get him back for Christmas for the Hong Kong race,” Hawkes told Radio Sports National.

Hawkes said the plan was always to spell Happy Galaxy after the Expressway Stales and not push further into the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

“He raced over the summer months, he won the Zeditave then he went to Sydney and won the Expressway, then we put him away,” the leading trainer said.

“He could have kept going, but we purposely put him away with all of this in mind.”

Hawkes said that Happy Galaxy was only going into the John Monash Stakes at eighty percent fitness but believes he is still good enough to win the Listed race.

“If he’s going to be winning Hong Kong races he’s got to be winning on Saturday, albeit he’s not wound up,” Hawkes said.

The Sir John Monash Stakes is primed to be one of the best races of the winter with Happy Galaxy set to face off against Group 1 winners Mrs Onassis and Atomic Force as well as veteran sprinters Skytrain and Stanzout.

You can bet on Happy Galaxy in the John Monash Stakes and throughout the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival at bookmaker.com.au.