The barrier draw was the difference between winning a losing for Wawail in the Kewney Stakes, says David Hayes.
Wawail drew barrier three in the 15 strong field and was given a perfect run by Michael Walker.
Wawail
The well-supported $3 favourite Sabatini on the otherhand was dragged back towards the tail by rider Nick Hall from barrier 13, coming widest in the straight, and then failing by half-length to overhaul Wawail ($7).
“It’s marvellous what a barrier does,” Hayes said who trains the winner in partnership with nephew Tom Dabernig.
“Sabatini had to get too far back and we enjoyed the run of the race.
“That was the difference between winning and losing.”
Her win in Saturday’s Group Two race over 1400m means Wawail has won five of her six starts and Hayes said the filly would head to Sydney.
He will assess the filly’s condition before making a decision on whether to tackle a three-year-old fillies race over 1400m or contest the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) on April 11.
Walker said it was his fault the filly does not have a perfect record after she was beaten into third place at Flemington on February 21.
On that occasion the filly drew wide and Walker rushed forward to lead before being run down.
He said once she found the front inside the last 200m on Saturday had again wanted to “pull up”.
“I was able to get a nice run and we got the job done today,” Walker said.
