Our Boy Malachi was forced to work hard over the early stages of the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) a fortnight ago before finishing a credible third, and co-trainer Wayne Hawkes is confident he will be more than a chance for success in Saturday’s Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) with a little more luck in transit.

Our Boy Malachi is reportedly in peak condition ahead of Saturday’s Doomben 10,000. Photo: Steve Hart

Allocated the somewhat wide barrier 8, Our Boy Malachi was caught outside early leaders Villa Verde and Cape Kidnappers for the first 400m of running before finally finding a position inside with cover.

Producing a good turn of foot without being able to see off winner Hot Snitzel and the second-placed Knoydart, Hawkes told Racing Ahead he is confident the Doomben conditions were not to blame for the Top Echelon gelding’s late fade in pace last time.

“He’s really good,” Hawkes said.

“He just didn’t have much luck in the first 400m the other day, and I’m sure if you swap his barrier and the winner’s barrier we’d be winning.

“He just had to do a bit of work to get across the first 400 and in those Group 1 races you just need things to go the right way.”

Having posted an incredible record of 17 race wins and two minors through just 20 career starts so far, Hawkes is confident the six-year-old is in the right form to post a maiden Group 1 victory in the 2015 Doomben 10,000.

“You can’t keep, let’s call it the Black Caviar record all but intact, any horse now it’s amazing when the string a few wins together and we all get excited,” he said.

“He ran out of his skin, he ran super, he ran third in a Group 1 and the horse is going fantastically well.”

Beginning his racing career under the guidance of the Rockhampton-based John O’Sing, Our Boy Malachi won three of four starts over the 2014 edition of the Brisbane Winter Carnival, but was unable to figure in his sole black type appearance when fifth in the Listed Bribie Handicap (1110m).

Returning to exceptional condition upon transferring to the care of Team Hawkes, the gelding out of Rusticate won each of the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) and Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) over a brief summer campaign in Sydney; returning this time for success in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) on April 18^th.

Ladbrokes.com.au is currently offering the best 2015 Doomben 10,000 odds, for which Our Boy Malachi can be taken at a particularly generous quote of $7.50 for success.