Co-trainer Michael Hawkes is happy with the condition of Not Listenin’tome heading into the 2014 Canterbury Stakes at Royal Randwick this weekend and believes that the talented colt took plenty of benefit out of his dominant first-up win in the Group 3 Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 22.
Not Listenin'tome resumed with a most impressive victory in the Zeditave Stakes at Caulfield this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Not Listenin’tome was an odds-on favourite heading into the Zeditave Stakes and he gave punters that took the short odds no concern; with the son of Dylan Thomas racing away from the rest of the field to score a four lengths victory.
Hawkes told Sky Racing HQ that Not Listenin’tome had returned to Sydney in excellent condition and is confident that the three-year-old may have a fitness edge over some of his rivals in the Canterbury Stakes on Saturday.
“He is well and he has travelled up good,” Hawkes said.
“He got here on Saturday morning and he has adapted straight back into it.
“We have had the run, going down to Melbourne, and he has had the float trip.
“He has definitely improved since he left here and now that he is back he looks awesome.
“His coat looks great.
“Fitness is a key thing this day and age and we are going into it fit.
“It will be a cracking race, it is a good field and hopefully we will be coming out on top.”
Not Listenin’tome, who is owned by leading Hong Kong trainer John Moore, has only had five race starts, but is considered one of the major contenders for the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) that will be run at Royal Randwick on April 12.
He made his racing debut with a dominant five and a half lengths win in the Taste Of Spring Raceday Maiden (1100m) at Bendigo on September 8 last year and scored a comfortable win over the consistent Sistine Demon in the Hygain Handicap (1200m) at Ballarat on October 10.
Not Listen’tome was well-backed in the lead-up to his metropolitan racing debut in the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 26, but had his undefeated record tarnished by Thermal Current.
Connections opted to press on to the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day and he flew home late to finish second behind Zoustar, who he will face in the Canterbury Stakes this weekend.
The Hawkes team is chasing their fifth victory in the Canterbury Stakes after previously winning the race with Yell (2004), Paratroopers (2006), Malcolm (2007) and Mentality (2008).
