Co-owner Nick Williams confirmed that Fawkner will start his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 12 after he impressed in an exhibition gallop at Caulfield this afternoon.
Damien Oliver has been booked to partner Fawkner in the 2015 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington in a fortnight. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Fawkner was set to return to the races in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) this afternoon, but he was withdrawn from the $400,000 race after being allocated a wide gate and the Macedon Lodge team instead elected to give the Reset gelding an exhibition gallop before the opening race at Caulfield.
The two-time Group 1 winner worked alongside stablemate Observational from the 1400 metre mark and Williams was happy with the effort of both gallopers.
“They both look to have done that very easily,” William said.
“It will be the same as last year, he will now kick-off in the Makybe Diva in a fortnight.
“I think Observational will probably kick-off on the same day or maybe next week.
“They both look to be going pretty well and will be interesting to hear what the jockeys say.”
Fawkner is set to follow a familiar path during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival and he will press on to the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 11 before he contests the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) for the second year in a row.
Team Williams are yet to decide on the exact path that Observational will follow during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, but he has been included in the nominations for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).
Observational made his racing debut with a second place finish at Newbury in October of 2013 and he was a close second at Newmarket in the Tattersalls Millions Trophy (2012m) in April last year before he claimed his maiden race win in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes (2213m) at Goodwood on May 23.
The Galileo gelding failed to fire in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes (2414m) at Goodwood on July 30 and he was purchased by Team Williams after he finished a disappointing seventh in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes (2414m) at York on August 20.
Observational made his Australian racing debut in the Listed Yalumba Golden Mile (1600m) at Bendigo on March 21 and he showed an impressive turn-of-foot in the final stages of the race to score a remarkable victory.
