Promising three-year-old Hawks Bay will be out to land his first metropolitan victory in Saturday's Heroic Handicap at Caulfield after a frustrating run of four second placings.Prepared by Neil Dyer at Kyneton, Hawks Bay has won just once in seven runs, when resuming at his second start in a Tatura three-year-old maiden on a heavy track over 1100m on December 14.Although unsuccessful since, the Black Hawk gelding has quickly progressed in grade to the extent that he was beaten a half-length when

Promising three-year-old Hawks Bay will be out to land his first metropolitan victory in Saturday's Heroic Handicap at Caulfield after a frustrating run of four second placings.

Prepared by Neil Dyer at Kyneton, Hawks Bay has won just once in seven runs, when resuming at his second start in a Tatura three-year-old maiden on a heavy track over 1100m on December 14.

Although unsuccessful since, the Black Hawk gelding has quickly progressed in grade to the extent that he was beaten a half-length when runner-up to Estee in the Listed Adelaide Guineas (1600m) at Morphettville at his latest appearance on March 9.

Redoute's Choice filly Estee was subsequently 2-1/2-lengths runner-up to the classy Gallica in the Group One Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville last Saturday.

Hawks Bay is out of the unraced Bellotto mare La Belle Coquette who has had seven named foals and all have been winners including Sandown and Morphettville winner Cape Danger and Peace Prize who notched seven wins.

But Hawks Bay is the first to get to black-type level.

"He stamped himself last start that he might be a step above the others," Dyer said.

"Saturday is a testing point for him. If he gets through well there are a few options which will open up for him."

Michelle Payne has been aboard Hawks Bay at his last three outings for seconds at Sandown, Moonee Valley and Morphettville but Mark Pegus will ride him for the first time in a race in Saturday's 2000m event.

Hawks Bay was bred by Robyn Blee, the manager of the Blee Lasslett Syndicate which is the managing part-owner of the horse, along with Mike Deacon.

They and the other owners gave former apprentice jockey Brenton Primmer a share in Hawks Bay.

Primmer hasn't ridden since suffering serious head injuries and two fractured vertebrae in a race fall at Warrnambool on September 19, 2006.

"Brenton used to ride Peace Prize and he was his favourite horse, so when we went and visited him in hospital for the first time we gave him a five per cent share in this horse," Dyer said.

"We were hoping he could come to a meeting at Mildura and stay with us for the night like in the old days, but he hasn't been able to get there as yet but we're hoping he can pretty soon."

The David Hayes-trained Stokehouse, who two starts back won the Group Two Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield on February 28, is topweight with 60kg while Definitive and Hawks Bay are next in the weights with 54kg.