Niwot Is Early Melbourne Cup Qualifier

Niwot has already secured himself automatic entry into the 2011 Melbourne Cup field by winning the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington today.

The six-year-old gelding has made a brilliant comeback from a knee injury that almost cost him his career, which he sustained after winning the Listed Winter Cup in 2009.

The Hawkes family-trained Niwot has now won two of his races this preparation.

“It’s been well reported he smashed his knee after he won the mile and a half race (Winter Cup) at Rosehill and we said to the owners he’ll never come back,” Hawkes said.
“He did a good job.

“The horse in front of him took off 1200 from home.”

Hawkes said that he was happy to see that Niwot was capable of running out the two mile distance of the $6 million Melbourne Cup.

“I know it’s a long way from the Melbourne cup but he’s run the trip out which most horses don’t do,” Hawkes said.

This win now takes Niwot’s record to 7 wins from 17 starts and will add $120,000 in prize money to his current total of $280,000.

Niwot won the Andrew Ramsden Stakes ahead of Im Jake, who finished in second, and Norsqui, who ran the trip out for third.

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