Michael Hawkes has a spring in his step.
Usually composed and measured, the Hawkes Racing co-trainer is upbeat as he prepares to welcome back Messene in Saturday’s Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
It isn’t just Messene that has Hawkes looking forward to the spring.
Add on Golden Slipper winner Mossfun, emerging stayers Leebaz, Entirely Platinum and Zephyron, untapped four-year-old Deep Field and new acquisition Atlante.
“We’ve got a really good stable going forward this spring so hopefully we have some good luck,” Hawkes said.
Messene will get the chance to draw first blood in the opening Group contest of the new racing season.
The winner of nine of his 13 starts, Epsom Handicap-bound Messene won his first black-type race in Canberra on Black Opal Stakes day then earned Doncaster Mile favouritism with his win in the Ajax Stakes.
He didn’t win the Group One but Hawkes rates Messene’s Doncaster effort as one of his best.
“I know he won seven straight but his run in the Doncaster was outstanding because he didn’t handle the wet track and still ran seventh,” Hawkes said.
James McDonald has the Missile mount and Hawkes has seen enough in the horse’s two recent barrier trials to be hopeful of a successful spring.
“He’s forward enough, he’s done everything right and his trials have been super,” Hawkes said.
Messene is a $4 chance in the field of nine, all of them resuming.
Rebel Dane, the horse with the most residual fitness after racing into the winter, is a $3.20 favourite ahead of Sweet Idea ($3.80).
Competitive against her own age as a two and three-year-old, Sweet Idea measured up against the best fillies and mares in the autumn but struggled on a wet track against all comers in the TJ Smith Stakes.
Mark Newnham, representing trainer Gai Waterhouse, has no doubt Sweet Idea is up to Saturday’s task.
“Her run in the Golden Slipper against both sexes was great, she won the Magic Millions Guineas against both sexes so I wouldn’t be concerned about her against the males.”