Fawkner will return to the races in the 2015 Makybe Diva Stakes and co-owner Nick Williams is absolutely delighted with the condition of his star galloper ahead of the Group 1 event at Flemington on Saturday.
Fawkner was narrowly denied by Dissident in the Makybe Diva Stakes last year and has the chance to go one better in 2015. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Fawkner has not been seen at the races since he finished tenth in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4 and Team Williams elected to scratch him from the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29 after he was allocated a wide barrier.
Williams admits that Fawkner will not be at peak fitness until he reaches the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24, but he still believes that the Reset gelding is forward enough to win the 2015 Makybe Diva Stakes.
“He is fantastic,” Williams told Racing Ahead.
“We couldn’t be happier with the horse.
“His grand final is still a couple of months away, but in terms of the condition he needs to be for this race he could not be in any better condition.
“I can’t tell you if he is going to win or not, but he will run really well.
“Some of his most visually impressive runs have been at Flemington and it suits him because the length of the straight gives him time to balance up and hopefully run them down.”
Fawkner was allocated barrier 14 when the Makybe Diva Stakes field was released earlier in the week and Williams believes that the wide gate is not ideal for the eight-year-old, but he has every confidence that jockey Damien Oliver will be able to settle the two-time Group 1 winner in the right position to give him the chance to finish over the top of his rivals in the final stages of the Group 1 event.
“We are fortunate enough that we have the best performed jockey of the last 20 years riding him,” Williams said.
“It is a sticky gate, but we are very fortunate to have Ollie and he will jump the horse, see what happens and make the right decision from there.
“As long as he gets some cover in the run somewhere he will be in the finish.”
Fawkner is currently available at 2015 Makybe Diva Stakes odds of $6 and he has been the best backed runner in the betting market with Ladbrokes, but Boban remains a narrow favourite at a quote of $4.60.
