Tavarnelle provided Team Hawkes with some consolation in winning the Group 3 $150,000 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m) at Flemington today after their stable star All Too Hard was a race morning scratching.
Hawkes was forced to withdraw the Australian Guineas favourite this morning after the $20 million colt was discovered to have a high temperature but Tavarnelle’s win brought some joy to the stable.
Wayne Hawkes said that Tavarnelle was a dual acceptor in both Rosehill and Flemington and only travelled to Melbourne late in the week when it was clear that Rosehill was to be run on a heavy track.
“She trialled on a wet track up in Sydney and didn’t trial very good. She was in in Sydney today and never lobbed down ‘til yesterday morning so it was a good result,” Hawkes said.
“It was a good three today and the track was perfect, Sydney’s just under water.”
“She’ll be here and there will be a few more heading south.”
Premiership leading jockey Glen Boss kept his winning momentum going with another well-judged ride and was able to nail the heavily backed Sheila’s Star right on the line to score by a short head in a blanket finish with Koonoomoo a short half head away in third spot.
Dwayne Dunn took Sheila’s Star to the front and set up a nice tempo with Boss stalking him all the way and the pair settled down for a tough fight down the straight.
“I was happy to let Sheila’s Star cross knowing how strong she is at the seven and I knew that she would take me for a long way,” Boss said.
“I honestly didn’t expect my mare to beat her when challenging her at the furlong and once I started to get close, Sheial’s Star certainly had her chance to win, my filly she just surged towards the last hundred metres.”
“Very Good effort actually to get over the top of Sheila’s Star who had a run under her belt.”
Boss agreed with Hawkes that Tavarnelle definitely was looking for a dry track and today’s surface suited her perfectly.