News

Fawkner Keeps The Caulfield Cup In Australia

19th Oct 2013

Australian bred, sold, trained and owned galloper Fawkner claimed the world’s richest 2400m handicap race on Saturday, the $2.5 million Group 1 MRC Caulfield Cup.

Fawkner ($70,000 2009 Premier, 6g Reset-Dane Belltar),the all Aussie galloper, faced stiff international competition in the 2013 renewal of the valuable event, but proved too strong at the end of the mile and a half contest for prominent owners Lloyd and Nick Williams.

"We have had a lot of runners in it [Caulfield Cup] over the years, it is just great we have managed to win it and we have managed to do it with an Australian horse and a son of our horse Reset,” said Nick Williams.

Team Williams had previously placed second in the Caulfield Cup twice with Nayrizi (1989) and Green Moon (2011).

Replay of Fawkner’s Caulfield Cup victory can be viewed HERE

Fawkner was nearly sold after a close second in the Group 1 VRC Emirates Stakes last November, but after the deal fell through Lloyd hatched a plan to aim gelding at the Caulfield Cup, the race that had proved elusive for Team Williams until today.

“Someone rang up [after Emirates] and wanted to buy him. We agreed to sell him and then they didn’t stump up the money. Dad said, “I’m glad the bloke didn’t pay, I’ve been thinking about this overnight and we’re going to win the Caulfield Cup with this horse”. All credit to him,” added Nick.

“We’re pretty big on setting horses for their grand final and this was this horses’ grand final and he’s done a great job. I think it [Caulfield Cup] is the hardest race to win in Australia,” Nick stated.

By Team William’s former triple Group 1 winner Reset, Fawkner was bred by Steve Bennetts and purchased from the draft of Mill Park SA at the 2009 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for $70,000.

Fawkner joins a long and distinguished honour roll of Caulfield Cup winners that includes fellow Inglis Yearling Sale graduates Elvstroem and Might And Power.

To view Fawkner as a yearling go to www.facebook.com/InglisBloodstock

Fawkner is the second foal of Danewin mare Dane Belltar, which was a winner at Group 3 level as well as a second placegetter in 2500m Group 1 VRC Oaks. Dane Belltar has also produced Group 2 Sandown Cup winner Tanby, another Team Williams purchase from an Inglis Select Yearling Sale.

Today’s $1.5 million first place prizemoney takes Fawkner’s earnings past $2.4 million. His record now stands at 20 starts for nine wins and six placings.

Fawkner
*Race Record:*20:9-3-3
Prizemoney: A$2,420,751
Breeding: Reset x Dane Belltar (by Danewin)
Breeder: Steve Bennetts SA
Sale: $70,000 at 2009 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale