Melbourne, September 15 – Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner showed he will be a force to reckoned with this spring when zooming home for a close second to Dissident in the Group I VRC Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington last Saturday.
Prepared by Robert Hickmott and ridden by Nicholas Hall, the Lloyd Williams owned Fawkner was beaten half a head with connections indicating the Cox Plate will be his primary goal for this campaign.
The seven year-old Reset gelding shares favouritism for the Cox Plate on October 25 with Dissident and may go into the race without another run.
A $70,000 purchase from the Mill Park draft at the 2009 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Fawkner is the third Caulfield Cup winner raised at Mill Park joining Southern Speed (2011) and Mummify (2003).
Boasting the consistent record of nine wins and seven placings from 23 starts with prizemoney topping $2.6 million, Fawkner was bred by Steve Bennetts and is a half-brother to stakes-winning stayer Tanby (also purchased and raced by Lloyd Williams) and stakes-placed Viking Star, being one of four winners from four foals to race for the good producer Dane Belltar.
A Group III winner by Danewin, Dane Belltar was a top class filly, placing in no fewer than three Group I Oaks events, so her success at stud should come as no surprise.
Dane Belltar has a two year-old filly by Starcraft, a yearling filly by English Derby winner New Approach (IRE) and has already foaled this spring delivering a colt by Street Cry (IRE).
