Hector Fawley – the wonderful “Wizard of Sandown” – returns to his ‘spiritual home’ in the $22,000 Listed Maidment Memorial (595m) – Race 8, 9.10pm – at Sandown Park on Thursday night.

And he should follow the proverbial ‘yellow brick road’ to a $15,000 first prize.

Because if ever a wiz there was, Hector Fawley is it!

Trained by Lisa Cockerell, Hector Fawley – in fact, named after a Harry Potter character – has won seven races from eight starts over the middle distance at Sandown.

Indeed, on April 20 last year, Hector Fawley (Mar ’21 Bernardo x Rolanda Hooch) waved a magic wand with a spellbinding 33.64sec win at SP – it was the third-fastest middle distance time ever on that circuit and just over one length off the 33.56sec track record set by Collinda Patty on August 15, 2021.

Additionally, Hector Fawley – on August 23 last year – took out the Speed Star Middle Distance (595m) in a scintillating 33.67sec at SP.

“It’ll be nice getting him up to the ‘600’ again as it seems to be his niche”

He has also won the G3 Racecallers Showdown (595m) in 33.87sec and finished third in the G3 Easter Gift (515m) – both in 2023 – at his ‘old stomping ground’.

A nine-time Group race finalist – including triumph in last year’s G1 Hume Cup (600m) at The Meadows – Hector Fawley’s past five starts have been over the sprint trip. But now he’s back over his pet distance.

Cockerell explained his recent sprinting forays – including a solid finish in the G3 Shootout (2^nd), a phenomenal Melbourne Cup heat performance (2^nd) and a gallant display in The Phoenix (3^rd) – have been “more because of the racing calendar”.

“There was nothing really for him over ‘600’, but we know he can also sprint,” Cockerell said. “So, the idea was to give him a race hit-out over ‘500’ at Sandown in the lead-up to the Maidment.

“We took a much-needed holiday over the Christmas/New Year period, and it was a perfect opportunity to give him a break. He needed a bit of time off; he’d been up a fair while coming into The Phoenix (December 16).”

Cockerell says, “it’ll be nice getting him up to the ‘600’ again as it seems to be his niche”. “We’re also hoping we get an invitation to the Rookie Rebel (The Meadows, February 24 over 600m).”

WATCH: “And the magic’s back!” Middle-distance ‘wizard’ HECTOR FAWLEY (B1) clocks a 595m near-record 33.64sec win at Sandown Park on April 20 last year.  

And she adds: “He’s been working very well. His temperament changes in the kennels when he’s super fit. “He may not be at the absolute peak of when he’s on song, but he’s not far off.”

However, Cockerell does have some concern that Hector Fawley has drawn box eight.

“You always want to be near the rail in a big race. He’s got his work cut out from the ‘pink’. You just need that luck out of box eight.”

Overall, Hector Fawley has contested 46 races for 17 wins, eight seconds and four thirds with $399,945 in prizemoney.

Hector Fawley is $2.50 favourite – ahead of Ailee Bale (Box 1 – $4.20) with Make No Promise (Box 3) and Aston Costello (Box 4) both $4.60 and Succeed (Box 7 – $6) – in a competitive market on Sportsbet.

Middle-distance debutant Make No Promise looms as the ‘sleeping giant’.

Make No Promise with Paul Bartolo after last year’s Maturity Classic heat win 📷 Clint Anderson

Prepared by Paul Bartolo, Make No Promise was a dual G1 sprint finalist last year – Maturity Classic (2^nd) and Melbourne Cup (5^th). He’s won 16 races, with eight seconds and eight thirds, from 39 starts.

It could be a lucrative night for Bartolo who also has Storm Stroller (Box 3 – $4.80) and Magic Muffin (Box 6 – $3.50), a litter sister of Make No Promise, in the $22,000 Listed Australian Sprint (515m) – Race 6, 8.28pm – also carying a $15,000 first prize.

Magic Muffin was runner-up in last year’s G1 Sapphire Crown at Sandown, while Storm Stroller was runner-up in last year’s G2 Geelong Gold Cup.

The race favourite is the Mark Delbridge-trained Elite Alex (Box 8 – $2.90) who was a finalist in last year’s G1 Golden Easter Egg.