The Hawk was a brilliant sprinter-miler of the 1920's, but his match race against Gloaming would be talked about for decades

THE HAWK (1918), a descendant of the unraced Land League mare SPARROW HAWK (GB), distinguished himself as an exceptional sprinter-miler, contrasting with the numerous MARTIAN stayers. He achieved championship status in both New Zealand and Australia, consistently outperforming the top sprinter-milers in both nations. His career was marked by both success and longevity, culminating in his 32nd victory at the age of nearly 13. This "small to medium-size" brown gelding was initially acquired as a yearling by W.J. Douglas for 180 guineas. He was described as a "chunky little gelding with enormous power in his quarters and loin". He was described by such from the Sydney Sportsman paper on arrival into Australia.

"The Hawk looks like a sturdy, over-grown pony or and ideal pack-horse for a drover; and a nice sort of take down he would be to take around the backblocks and match against station cracks and shearers' champions!"

Following Mr. Douglas's passing in late 1922, The Hawk competed under the estate before being purchased by New Zealand trainer J.M. "Jack" Cameron for £500. He was trained out of Mahora Stables in Hastings, at the corner of Tomona Rd and Fredrick Street and spelled at the owner’s farm in Te Mahanga.

As a juvenile, The Hawk competed in ten races, securing six victories and achieving an unplaced finish on only one occasion. At the age of three, he triumphed in the WRC Telegraph Handicap, a 6-furlong (1200m) race, carrying 8 st.13 lbs (56.5kg). Shortly thereafter, he established a new Australasian record for six furlongs by winning the Waterloo Stakes in 1:09.4. His other notable victories include the 1921 Hawke's Bay Guineas, the ARC Islington Plate (one mile), and a dead-heat in the CJC Jockey Club Handicap.

During the 1923-24 season, Cameron campaigned THE HAWK in Australia ridden by Jim Pike on occassions. He travelled on the Ulimaroa steamer to Sydney and on return disembarked a champion, later transferred onto the mail train to Hastings. The horse achieved notable victories, including the one-mile Rosehill Stakes (weight-for-age), the VATC St. George Stakes at 9 furlongs (1800m - WFA), the Futurity Stakes at 7 furlongs (1400m - WFA), the VRC Essendon Stakes over 1-1/4 miles (2000m - WFA), and the C.M. Lloyd Stakes at 1 mile (1600m - WFA). These exceptional performances by The Hawk were largely responsible for Martian securing the eighth position on the list of leading sires in Australia based on earnings for the 1923-24 period. THE HAWK amassed £16,000 from one Australian visit alone.

Martian had just four runners that season in Australia, and they won 12 high-class races with earnings of £14,423. The least number of winners of every other stallion on that 1923-24 top ten list was number one, VALAIS, who had 15 winners of 29 races worth £28,379.

The next season, 1924-25, he won eight of his eighteen races, was second twice and third once; all but one of his runs were in Australia, and, with earnings of £8,569, added to the £948 won by another of Jack Cameron's horses put Cameron at number eight in the leading owner's list there. As a six-year-old, The Hawk raced 16 times for eight wins and one of his most prosperous trips to Australia. His wins included repeats of his triumphs in the Rosehill Stakes, the VATC St. George Stakes, and the VRC Essendon and C.M. Lloyd Stakes, plus the VATC Caulfield Stakes (9 furlongs), the Rosehill Rawson Stakes (9 furlongs - WFA), and the Australian Jockey Club's All-Aged Stakes (8 furlongs) and Challenge Stakes (6 furlongs). In his Australian sojurns, he managed to desfeat brilliant galloopers such as HEROIC, NIGHT PATROL and BEAUFORD.

It was seven years after the end of World War I that New Zealand saw its last great match race. In the autumn of 1925, THE HAWK was taken back to New Zealand on a long boat journey to meet the grand old gelding GLOAMING in the one mile Hawke's Bay J.D. Ormond Memorial Gold Cup at Hastings in May. The other two entries in the race bowed out, leaving it a match race between the six-year-old gelding The Hawk and Gloaming, then rising ten, and slated for retirement after the race.

Thousands of spectators descended on Hastings to view the race, with special trains scheduled to carry the overload. People crammed the racecourse, climbed on the stands roof, and clung to fencing around the track to catch their last look at the mighty Gloaming on the turf. Both were given a rousing reception when they appeared in front of the big crowd.

The great rider Hector Gray decided to put the pressure on GLOAMING by leading early. THE HAWK passed Gloaming after the start and led by two lengths until the half-mile post, when Gloaming caught up, running at The Hawk's hindquarters. As they turned for home, Gloaming engaged his famous lengthened stride, and pulled past The Hawk, beating him by a length in record time, his 57th win in 67 starts. The mighty veteran had a big heart, and he proved too good in a race that would be talked about for years to come. No shame was attached to The Hawk for this loss, and he was roundly cheered for giving Gloaming such a good run. The two had met three time, with a resounding victory to Gloaming in all encounters.

While Gloaming retired, The Hawk went on to run to the age of 13, mostly in New Zealand. His wins in these years were fewer, but he was well-placed in many races. In 1927 he won the WRC Metropolitan Handicap and the Taranaki Stakes (6 furlongs), and in 1928 won the Taranaki Stakes a second time, and in 1930, age 12, won the Taranaki Cup (12 furlongs). At age 13 he ran his thirty-first, and last, win, in the Dannevirke Cup.He had 136 race starts, winning top quality races in both New Zealand and Australia, and set Australasian records for six and eight furlongs. In an exceptional career he won over all distances from 4 furlongs to 12 furlongs and his last race was as a rising 13-year-old. At the grand old age of 12 in his 11th consecutive season, he won his thirty-first, and last race in the Dannevirke Cup ridden by his regular pilot, Roy Reed. .

RACE RECORD - 136: 32-18-20

EARNINGS - £28,201

Telegraph Handicap

Waterloo Stakes

Hawkes Bay Guineas

St George Stakes

Rosehill Stakes

Caulfield Stakes

Rawson Stakes

Futurity Stakes

C.M Lloyd Stakes

Essendon Stakes

All-Aged Stakes

Challenge Stakes

Metropolitan Handicap

Taranaki Stakes

Taranaki Cup

Dannevirke Cup