Time to repeat smart victory
SHOWTIME will put his future as a stallion on the line when he tackles Group 1 company at Caulfield tomorrow.
The Hawkes Racingtrained horse contests the Memsie Stakes (1400m) off a last-start victory in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes over the same course and distance.
Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes says it was vital the fouryear-old, part-owned by Arrowfield Stud, secured a Group 1 win so he could join his sire Snitzel and his grandsire Redoute’s Choice at the NSW stud.
Despite the Lawrence success, Hawkes concedes it is a greater challenge tomorrow but says the 1400m is ideal.
“You can have the same horses running as last time to the same horses running this week and the pressure’s three times as strong,” he said.
“Then you add in Vega Magic and a couple of those horses. It’s a Group 1 race worth a million bucks.
“They don’t give them away and he’s going to have to earn it.
“But his 1400m record at Caulfield is outstanding and his only blemish was in the Guineas last year when he got four-back the fence and got crashed into.
“He hated being in there getting all jammed up.”
Showtime has drawn barrier two tomorrow which Hawkes says allows jockey Dwayne Dunn to take a forward position, as he did in the Lawrence.
And while the race sets up differently with the added contenders, Hawkes said Showtime had trained on well since the victory.
“He’s drawn a good barrier and you know he’s going to jump and he’ll either be leading or box-seating like he did the other day,” Hawkes said.
“And he looks outstanding. He looks like a stallion now whereas before he looked a bit immature.”
Whereas Showtime was well supported to land the Lawrence Stakes, he has so far been easy in betting since final declarations on Wednesday, drifting from $10 to $11 with Ladbrokes.
Last year’s Memsie winner Vega Magic, to be ridden by Damien Oliver, has firmed from $2.90 to $2.70 while the most support has come for Sydney visitor Happy Clapper who has gone from $7 to $5.50.