Improving Von Hauke makes winning return

Von Hauke is a work in progress and his raw talent saw him make a successful return on Wednesday afternoon on the Hillside course at Sandown.

The Savabeel four-year-old was making his first appearance since July and a recent trial win had him close enough to the mark to score over 1300 metres.

“He’s one of those horses that naturally wants to go hard and he’s got a bit to learn, but he has got plenty of ability,” trainer Cliff Brown said.

The Waikato Stud-bred and sold Von Hauke travelled boldly in third spot to the turn and proved too strong in the closing 200 metres for the second win of his six-start career.

“Gelding him has brought him on and he’ll improve a lot with that run,” successful rider Jamie Kah said.

Von Hauke was bought by Brown for A$190,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale and is out of the O’Reilly mare Tiara, a granddaughter of the G1 Auckland Cup winner Royal Tiara, and also the dam of multiple winners Savvy Sovereign and Savvy Crown.

Brown also bought Tiara’s Super Seth colt at this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for $50,000 and her filly by Tivaci for $22,000 at the National Weanling Sale at Karaka.