The Hawkes Racing team is likely to turn its attention to spring with rising three-year-old Scenic Warrior after the colt landed a city win at Warwick Farm in his second start.
Carrying the colours worn by his Group One-winning sire Proisir and the former Hawkes-trained Caulfield Guineas winner Divine Prophet, Scenic Warrior took out Monday’s Iron Jack Maiden Plate for two-year-old colts and geldings in determined fashion under Tim Clark.
Scenic Warrior had finished fifth in a Canterbury maiden on debut late last month and this time raced outside leader Gunnamatta before edging clear of him in the straight in heavy conditions to score by three-quarters of a length.
“He’s a really nice horse going forward,” co-trainer Michael Hawkes told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“He was probably a little bit stiff at Canterbury. He drew a bad barrier and had to go too far back but he really hit the line solidly.
“Today, Warwick Farm, he jumped out and travelled pretty well and he got away with a win.
“He’ll more than likely head to the paddock and he’ll come back a really nice horse later on in the spring.”
Monday’s public holiday meeting also included the Sky Racing Active Plate for two-year-old fillies which lost some of its intrigue when champion Winx’s half-sister Covent Garden was scratched on race morning.
Covent Garden is entered to instead make her debut at Canterbury on Wednesday and has also been nominated for a race at Rosehill on Saturday.
The race was taken out by Godolphin-owned, James Cummings-trained Silhouette who broke through at her third start, sprinting between runners in the straight under Jason Collett before going on to score by 1-1/4-lengths.
Silhouette is by Teofilo and is the first winner produced by her dam, Cameo, who was a Group Three winner of the Keith Nolan Classic in 2013.
“Last start not a lot worked out for her,” stable representative Darren Beadman said.
“She jumped inwards and the jockey didn’t have much control of her. She’s very light in the mouth.
“James brought her back to 1200 metres today, with a bit more speed on and Jason (Collett) was able to ride her with nice soft hands.
“It was good to see her slice through them like a hot knife through butter.”