Team Hawkes unveiled its latest juvenile star when Gold Force won the $250,000 Inglis 2YO Premier at Mornington on Wednesday.

The Flying Spur youngster mustered speed after a slow getaway to lead on debut.  He took advantage of a track bias that favoured front-runners and then accelerated in the straight to score by almost three lengths.

“He’s an exciting horse and has got so much upside,” jockey Craig Williams claimed.  “Whatever he does now is a bonus because he’s definitely going to be a lovely three-year-old.”

The previous two winners of the Inglis Premier – Twilight Royale and Snitzerland – both graduated to victories at Group 2 level.

Gold Force (2g Flying Spur – Blue Note by Falbrav) was purchased by WA agent John Chalmers for $140,000 out of the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2013 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.  He is raced by Perth partners Nic Giorgetta, Rob Mitchell, Geoff Evans and Wayne Forrest.

“We’re just happy to pick up the prizemoney,” co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said.  “He’s a nice horse but has a long way to go before getting near his three-quarter brother Mentality.”

John Hawkes prepared Mentality to Group 1 victories in the Champagne Stakes, Randwick Guineas and George Main Stakes.

Gold Force is a stablemate of Nostradamus who is currently priced at $10 for the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on February 22.  The Medaglia D’Oro colt also won on debut at Flemington last month and was an encouraging fourth in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude last Saturday.