Rainbow Styling is emerging as one of the jewels in the crown of the Hawkes training partnership as they shift the focus of their business toward the staying ranks.The Zabeel gelding will be chasing his third consecutive win when he lines up in the Listed Frank Underwood Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.Five-year-old Rainbow Styling is trained by Hall Of Fame horseman John Hawkes and his sons Michael and Wayne.Last start Rainbow Styling comfortably defeated Underwood Cup hopeful Hairy by a le

Rainbow Styling is emerging as one of the jewels in the crown of the Hawkes training partnership as they shift the focus of their business toward the staying ranks.

The Zabeel gelding will be chasing his third consecutive win when he lines up in the Listed Frank Underwood Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Five-year-old Rainbow Styling is trained by Hall Of Fame horseman John Hawkes and his sons Michael and Wayne.

Last start Rainbow Styling comfortably defeated Underwood Cup hopeful Hairy by a length in the Listed Tattersalls Cup over Saturday's distance.

"He's trained on very well and he'll run very well again," Michael Hawkes said.

"Being a Zabeel, we always expected him to take that little while to mature and get better with time and he's certainly hitting his straps now and will keep getting better."

John Hawkes enjoyed plenty of success in top level staying races when he trained in his own right, courtesy of the likes of champion Octagonal, 2005 Caulfield Cup winner Railings and AJC Australian Derby winners Headturner (2006) and Fiumicino (2007).

Prominent owner Nick Moraitis, who races Rainbow Styling, also races Fiumicino.

Last year Fiumicino gave the Hawkes training partnership their biggest win when he claimed the 2400 metre Group One BMW at Rosehill.

"We've had stayers in the past but not a lot of them," Hawkes said.

"We're trying to look more at the staying side of things now, we've never really had that before."

Winning jockey from the Tattersall's Cup Jim Cassidy returns from suspension on Saturday and will ride Rainbow Styling, who has 55.5kg.

"He gets a kilo and a half for his winning run but that won't be a problem, hopefully he draws a gate and will get another nice run there somewhere," Hawkes said.

Next stop for Rainbow Styling will be the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Randwick.

Rainbow Styling has never won beyond 2250 metres but Hawkes says he is primed for longer trips this time around.

The gelding has raced over 2400 metres three times for one placing in the 2008 Christmas Cup when third to Ready To Lift.

Rainbow Styling was fourth over 2400 metres in the Group One Queensland Derby two years ago.

"He just wasn't quiet seasoned for it (2400m) last time but now he's more mature and really going places," Hawkes said.

"He's a nice middle distance horse at the moment but we're hoping as he gets older he might be able to stretch it out a bit more."

The Hawkes camp isn't looking beyond Australia Day at this stage with Rainbow Styling.

"We don't want to overtax him, he's doing everything nice at the moment and if he's doing it right by us we'll do it right by him," Hawkes said.