Dawn Dawn earns Group One Coolmore start

Dawn Dawn (yellow) unleashed down the outside to beat Sweet Deal in the Group Two Guy Walter Stakes.

Talented mare Dawn Dawn has come from near-last to land a superb win in the Group Two Guy Walter Stakes, underlining her credentials for a Coolmore Classic start.

Given time to find her feet by Tommy Berry, Dawn Dawn ($13) unleashed down the outside to nail leader and $2.50 favourite Sweet Deal by a short half-head, with another short head to Pohutukawa ($5) in a driving three-way finish.

It was a heady afternoon for the Hawkes stable, which less than an hour earlier celebrated a win at Flemington with Sylvia’s Mother, who is also on a Coolmore Classic path.

Both mares are raced by owner-breeders Robert and Pam Crosby who were on track at Randwick on Saturday and overjoyed with the results, much to the delight of co-trainer Michael Hawkes.

“It’s days like this when you see these guys behind me jumping around like yo-yos, it’s fantastic,” Hawkes said.

Hawkes said Dawn Dawn was a deserved winner after having no luck at her first two campaign runs, including last-start when she did not appreciate a soft track in the Triscay Stakes.

While jockey Tommy Berry had reservations about a wide draw in Saturday’s 1400-metre race, Hawkes was confident it would suit Dawn Dawn.

“She had no luck last start. Even first up she was probably a good thing beaten,” Hawkes said.

“Tommy was a little bit worried about the barrier but I said, ‘I think it’s perfect for her, she’ll get back and she will really hit the line and get one clear crack at them and as long as you’re balanced on the corner she will do the rest’.”

Hawkes said the Crosbys could continue to be excited with both Dawn Dawn and Sylvia’s Mother set to tackle the Group One Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 14.

“They’ve got two really good, live chances now heading towards the Coolmore,” Hawkes said.