Ducimus survives protest to win Talindert

Ducimus has made the transition from country grade to stakes success but connections have had to endure an anxious wait for a protest result at Flemington.

Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes was already feeling a little extra pressure with the colt’s Hong Kong owners on course for Saturday’s Talindert Stakes.

The winner of a two-year-old maiden on debut at Ballarat last month, Ducimus was heavily supported from $9 into $4.60 favouritism .

Ducimus held on to score a long head victory over Taking Aim ($5.50) with Sanadaat ($9) 1-1/2 lengths away third.

But Sanadaat’s rider Craig Williams quickly fired in a protest, alleging interference at the 250m mark.

After a long deliberation, Racing Victoria stewards said they could not be satisfied the amount of interference, while acknowledging it was severe, affected the result and they dismissed the objection.

The Hawkes Racing-trained future star All Too Hard won the Talindert in 2012 and went on to win the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, but Hawkes did not want to be drawn into comparisons.

He said he wouldn’t mind if Ducimus, a $700,000 yearling, pulled up a little tired from his win on Saturday and headed to the spelling paddock.

“Just because their price tag is big, doesn’t mean they can run,” Hawkes said.

“You lose Star Turn, he’s heading to the breeding barn eventually and hopefully this one is coming along to replace him.

“We’ll probably err on the side of caution with him.

“He’s still a baby, still immature. If you look after them, let them mature, then you’ll get something else down the track.

“I know there’s a Blue Diamond next week, a Todman Slipper in two weeks time, but we’ll let the horse do the talking.”