Devil Hawk emerged as a leading Spring Champion Stakes hope for Chatswood Stud’s Purrealist after producing a last-to-first burst in the G3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle.

Hawkspur’s younger brother defied a betting drift to beat Tatoosh and Gold Ambition in a blanket finish on Friday.  He is the 4th stakes winner by Purrealist who is standing for a fee of $5,500 (inc gst) at Chatswood in association with Tony Santich.

“That was super,” jockey Tye Angland declared.  “He liked that speed and really let down.  I think he will be better again when we step up to 2000m.”

Devil Hawk (3c Purrealist – Mollyhawk by Catbird) is starting to show his true ability as a three-year-old – just like Hawkspur who won the G1 Queensland Derby in 2013.  “He’s a horse that thrives on confidence and is still learning how to gallop,” Angland said.  “I thought were beaten at the 100m but he hit the line well once I pulled the whip.”

The Chris Waller-trained colt won his maiden at Canterbury no more than a month ago for owners David & Lynlea Puglisi and Tony & Gianna Muollo.  Bookmakers have firmed him into $11 for the G1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on October 10.

Hawkspur and Devil Hawk are from Mollyhawk who was placed at Randwick but retired a maiden after 7 starts for Waller.  She has a yearling colt by Purrealist and foaled a filly to him on August 22.

Purrealist is a stakes-winning son of Tale Of The Cat and he stood at Makybe before moving to Chatswood’s Seymour property in 2012.