Hawkshot turned in more than was expected after he was almost tossed over the running rail three times at Sandown last Wednesday.

After what was quite a rough affair he was forced back to last and had to go around every horse in the race to get a reasonable run.

He will not have that problem in running the mile at headquarters, and will be a force to be reckoned with on that win, which would give his sire, Fiorente, his first Group 1 success.            

Fiorente did more than expected in his first season, he had a couple of winners, he is on the threshold of an improved season, his progeny are going to be better with time.

 Hawkshot winning at Sandown

 A CRUEL BLOW FOR RACING FAMILY 

Peter Liston is a guy that could always ride with the punches, he could weather the storm, he was born and raised in the Mallee, they don’t give in easily up that way.

He and his wife, Pauline, with their family, moved to a stud property known as Lakewood in South Australia, in the distance was Narrung Stud where the sensational thoroughbred sire Adraan stood, his first and only season, and further on, the waters of Lake Albert.

After what was a short period Peter and his wife, Pauline, with their family wanted to return to Victoria, it offered more security and an improved lifestyle.

Above all it had to be horse country within reasonable reach of the capitol city that is where much of the racing and breeding industry is centred.

It didn’t take that long for the Liston family to settle on “Three Bridges” on the Loddon River, where the gums grow as tall as they do along the Murray.

A place of peace and tranquillity where time seemed to stand still, as you walked through the lush pastures that were to be known as Three Bridges, not that far away from the small hamlet of Eddington.

When the stud got up and running all new stabling was built, holding yards and paddocks, a veterinary facility, modern feed sheds and brand new home with all modern cons.

Pauline Liston is a remarkable woman, she is a true horse women, she wouldn’t ask a man to do a job she could not do herself.

Stryker was the first sire to stand at Three Bridges, he was by Fastnet Rock, he proved a very handy sire, however, he wasn’t really commercial, you needed to do better to remain a going concern.

You don’t find them under gooseberry bushes, the market is extremely competitive, there are a lot of players with the same intentions.

Peter Liston thought he had struck a pot of gold, the horse he was able to secure was the outstanding two year old colt, Unencumbered, who had just won the Magic Millions Classic, it was better than winning the lottery.

However that didn’t last long, Unencumbered died after covering just a few short seasons, he has had 59 runners for 32 winners.

He was leading two year old sire in his first season, with earnings of S1.9 million, winning with a winner at his first starter at Randwick.

His first crop of yearlings sold up to $150,000 in 2017, and that was just the tip of the iceberg, his replacement value is any ones guess, it could run into millions, and you may never replace him.