After preparing for their comebacks in Sydney, Hawkes Racing will unveil a couple of their three-year-olds in stakes races at Caulfield.
Dual winner Semillion runs in the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) for colts and geldings on Saturday while $900,000 yearling purchase Lomandra commences her career in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m).
Wayne Hawkes who runs the Melbourne arm of the training partnership he shares with his father John and brother Michael, said Semillion was sent to Melbourne as it looked the right race to kick him off in.
He said the stable was not dodging the wet Sydney tracks as Semillion had won on a heavy track as a two-year-old during The Championships at Randwick in April.
Semillion has done all the groundwork for his return in Syndey, including finishing second in a Rosehill barrier trial on heavy ground on July 29.
“He won the two-year-old race on Champions Day up in Sydney and it was a Heavy 37, so the wet weather doesn’t bother him,” Hawkes said.
“It’s just this is the right race to run him in first-up.
“He’s been to Caulfield before and run well. He led them up in a Blue Diamond and got beaten a length or so, so he knows the track well.”
Semillion ran second to Lofty Strike in a Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude before running fifth to Daumier in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes, then headed to Sydney to win the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes.
Hawkes said Saturday’s assignment will determine whether Semillion is kept to the three-year-old sprint features or is stretched out in trip for the Caulfield Guineas.
“I don’t know whether we’ll try him over a trip, it’s too early for those sorts of decisions,” Hawkes said. Lomandra is a filly by Not A Single Doubt from Vasilissa, making her a half-sister to Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa.
The filly has had two trials in Sydney to prepare for her debut and Hawkes said Lomandra faces a serious challenge to win on debut.
“She’s got a big pedigree but it’s never easy up against the experienced horses,” Hawkes said.
“Michael and John do a good job, so hopefully they make me look good.”