News

Fawkner Wins Third Group 1 In Makybe Diva

12th Sep 2015

The flying Fawkner claimed his third career Group 1 triumph with a tenacious victory in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) in Melbourne today, while fellow Inglis graduate Petits Filous extended her unbeaten record to four down the famous Flemington straight.

Fawkner (Reset x Dane Belltar) is competing in his sixth consecutive racing season for Nick and Lloyd Williams and the tough grey gives every indication this could be his best, going one better than last year’s runner-up finish to win the Group 1 VRC Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600m.

"He's a ripper this horse. He’s an eight-year-old but he’s had the best life at the Williams stable there, they’ve really looked after him and he keeps repaying them,” champion jockey Damien Oliver said.

Fawkner was purchased from the Mill Park Stud draft at the 2009 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $70,000, and takes his earnings past $3.6 million for co-owners Nick, Lloyd and Suzy Williams.

The Makybe Diva Stakes, formerly named the Craiglee Stakes, has an illustrious honour roll including Light Fingers (1965), Zabeel (1990), Mahogany (1994) and Inglis Premier champion Weekend Hussler (2008). But it is the feat of Northerly in 2002 that the connections of Fawkner will be trying to replicate – the Makybe Diva / Cox Plate double.

Nick Williams said Fawkner would be aimed at the Caulfield Stakes, a race the gelding won last year, before heading to the W.S. Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on 24 October.

Earlier in the day, exceptional Inglis Classic graduate Petits Filous (Street Boss x Excellent Lady) extended her unbeaten record to four straight with an impressive win in the Listed VRC Cap d’Antibes Stakes over 1100m.

Petits Filous led by three lengths at the 100-metre-mark and continued to extend her lead until she hit the line. A $65,000 purchase from the Emirates Park draft at last year’s Inglis Classic Sale for her trainer Ciaron Maher, the filly has taken her earnings past $270,000.

“She just keeps taking the next step. You never really know how they’re going to handle going down the straight the first time but she settled a little better today and put them away pretty easily,” said Maher.

Having taken so keenly to the Flemington straight, Maher looks forward to contesting some strong races this campaign when the filly steps up to 1200m.

“We’ll just see how she pulls up. We paid up a late nomination for the Blue Sapphire Stakes so that she has that option, and we might map out a plan into the Coolmore,” Maher said.

The Group 1 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes was won last year by Brazen Beau, which, like Petits Filous, was purchased from the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.