Longeron has given the Hawkes Racing partnership its 100th winner in Australia for the season as he continued a strong patch of winter form at Caulfield.
The rising seven-year-old made it back-to-back city wins in Saturday’s Kevin Dunne Plate (2000m) and jockey Dwayne Dunn believes the gelding has never raced better.
Longeron
After Survived went up to take the lead from Longeron early in the race, Dunn was able to take a trail on the $3.80 equal favourite before he cruised up to the lead early in the straight.
Dunn waited until passing the 200m to ask Longeron for his supreme effort and the gelding drew clear to win by 3-1/4 lengths over Kapour with Self Sense another half length away third.
“He’s airborne at the moment,” Dunn said.
“He looks terrific and being able to add another string to his bow and getting him to relax a little bit has helped us as well.
“He was able to sit off the leader today and I was on my own and he relaxed well. That leaves a good turn of foot when you need it late.”
Of the 100 winners nationwide this season for the Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes training partnership, 26 have come in Melbourne metropolitan races.
It didn’t take long for the Hawkes stable to add to its season tally with Tucanchoo claiming the ATC Winter Cup at Rosehill.
