News

Fawkner Fires on Spring Return

8th Sep 2012

Breednet - Tara Madgwick - Saturday, 8 September 2012

The powerful Lloyd Williams team struck early at Flemington on Saturday when lightly raced Reset five year-old Fawkner (pictured as yearling) returned from a spell to post a resounding win in the Listed VRC Sofitel Stakes.

The Robert Hickmott trained gelding had been quietly working though the restricted grades in previous campaigns, but judging by this performance he's now ready to up the ante to the major leagues.

The dark grey gelding travelled well for Nick Hall and let down with a ferocious finishing sprint to run right away and win the 1400 metre contest as he pleased, his overall record now six wins and three placings from 12 starts with prizemoney in excess of $270,000.

"He's good this horse and has come back really well,” said Nick Williams.

"He had an interrupted preparation in the autumn and we tipped him straight out after giving him a kill and he's just come back so much bigger and better.

"We've always thought a lot of him, being a half-brother to Tanby and by Reset, who holds a special place in our hearts.”

A $70,000 purchase from the Mill Park draft at the 2009 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Fawkner (pictured as a yearling) is a half-brother to stakes-winning stayer Tanby and is one of four winners from four foals to race for the good producer Dane Belltar.

A Group III winner by Danewin, Dane Belltar was a top class filly, placing in no fewer than three Group I Oaks events, so her success at stud should come as no surprise. She was covered last spring by Starcraft.

Fawkner is the 18th stakes-winner for Darley based Reset, who was an unbeaten dual Group I winner for the Lloyd Williams stable before his sale and retirement to Darley in 2004.

The son of Zabeel stands at Darley Victoria at a fee of $16,500