Fawkner Scores in the G1 Caulfield S.

Victorious in last year’s G1 Caulfield Cup and a commendable sixth in the G1 Melbourne Cup, Fawkner came through here to stamp himself as one of the favorites for the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley two weeks from yesterday. The grey gelding made an interim appearance in the G1 William Reid S. at the Valley Mar. 21, finishing seventh, but beaten just two lengths by top sprinter Spirit of Boom (Aus) (Sequalo {Aus}), but was again spelled off that effort. He returned from six months of inactivity to just miss behind Dissident in the G1 Maykbe Diva S. Sept. 13 and was the second choice to that rival over a more comfortable trip second-up. Side Glance was ridden for speed by Jamie Spencer and enjoyed a relatively easy time of it, as the expected pacesetter Crackerjack King (Ire) (Shamardal) missed the break and was forced to travel wide around the field. Dissident did the chasing from second, while Fawkner enjoyed a box-seat journey and traveled on the bridle all the way for Nicholas Hall. Peeled out three wide entering the straight, Fawkner split a weakening Dissident and Crackerjack King, overtook a dour Side Glance and held off a late rally from Criterion for the victory. Sacred Falls (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), recent winner of the G1 George Main S., came from last to be a good fourth. Dissident was found to have bled and is compulsorily banned from racing for three months. “Every time I get on this horse it doesn’t matter how nervous I am leading up to the race, he fills me with confidence”, said winning rider Nick Hall, who took the call for his godfather and co-owner Lloyd Williams. “He just raced perfectly and he is showing that he is ready for the big races and further a distance too”, he added. Sacred Falls’ trainer Chris Waller was not discouraged with his performance. “From a Cox Plate point of view it was perfect,” he stated. “He ran a terrific race. Obviously it was always going to be hard from that gate [12] and unfortunately I had to go all of the way back.”

Saturday, Caulfield, Australia 
CATHAY PACIFIC CAULFIELD S.-G1, A$400,000, CAU, 10-11, 3yo/up, 10fT, 2:01.68, gd. 
1–FAWKNER (AUS), 130, g, 7, by Reset (Aus) 
     1st Dam: Dane Belltar (Aus) (GSW & MG1SP-Aus), by Danewin (Aus) 
     2nd Dam: Ameerat-Blaadi (Aus), by Kenmare (Fr) 
     3rd Dam: Taj Eclipse (Aus), by Taj Rossi (Aus) 
(A$70,000 yrl ‘09 INGMEL). O-N C Williams, L J 
Williams & Mrs L J Williams; B-S Bennetts; T-Robert 
Hickmott; J-Nicholas Hall; A$240,000. Lifetime 
Record: 24-10-4-3, A$2,865,751. *1/2 to Tanby 
(Aus) (Galileo {Ire}), GSW & G1SP-Aus; and Viking 
Star (Aus) (Red Ransom), GSP-Aus. Werk Nick 
Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the 
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 
2–Criterion (NZ), 128, c, 4, Sebring (Aus)–Mica’s 
Pride (Aus), by Bite the Bullet. O-Sir O G Glenn; 
B-Go Bloodstock New Zealand Ltd (NZ); T-David 
Payne. A$72,000. 
3–Side Glance (GB), 130, g, 8, Passing Glance (GB)– 
Averami (GB), by Averti (Ire). O-Pearl Bloodstock 
Ltd; B-Kingsclere Stud (GB); T-Andrew Balding. 
A$36,000. 
Margins: LHD, 1 3/4. Odds: 4.50, 15.00, 25.00. 
Also Ran: Sacred Falls (NZ), Happy Trails (Aus), Dissident (Aus), Dear Demi (Aus), Foreteller (GB), Sertorius (Aus), Massiyn (Ire), Kirramosa (NZ), Crackerjack King (Ire). 
Click for the Racing Post result or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.