Debutant lands special win for Hawkes family

Father and sons training operation Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes would have felt a little added pressure before the running of a maiden race at Sandown.

Girijaala was lining up for her debut in the Sportsbet Racing Form Plate (1300m) on Wednesday, a filly owned by Michael’s wife Clare and Jenny Hawkes, John’s wife and mother of the two boys.

Under the urgings of Jye Mcneil, Girijaala ($8) scored a hard-fought head victory over Act Natural ($3.60) with Qismah ($61) a further 1-¾ lengths away third.

Wayne Hawkes said it was a special win for the family as Clare and his mother had raced the filly’s dam Amangiri.

“This is the first foal of mum who won a couple of Stakes races and she won the last race on Cox Plate Day one year,” Hawkes said.

“Dwayne Dunn came back that day and I said to him ‘that was a bit cool’ and he said ‘a bit cool, the saddle slipped and if I had of moved an inch, she would have got beaten’.

“Mum will be at home watching this and she’ll be pretty excited.

“These are her dad’s colours and mum’s brother (Gary Aldenhoven) died when he was 40 and it would have been his 80th birthday today, so it’s a bit of a family thing this win.

“It’s pretty special.”

Girijaala is a rising four-year-old and Hawkes said the filly should rise to a higher grade, just like her dam did.

“She’s always been immature,” Hawkes said.

“Mum was quite immature and Deep Fields don’t run early. She’s three-and-a-half now, but she’s just a baby.

“I reckon in 12 months’ time, I think we’ll be seeing her winning much better races.”

Meanwhile, former Singapore based trainer Dan Meagher registered his first Australian win since relocating to Pakenham when Cardone won the Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap (1000m).

Meagher was forced out of Singapore when racing closed down in October last year and Cardone was just his second runner.

Cardone was ridden by Tom Prebble, the son of former champion jockey Brett Prebble who had a long association with Meagher’s father, Melbourne Cup winning trainer John Meagher.

“It’s fantastic to win with Tommy, who is Brett’s son and it’s his 100th winner today,” Meagher said.

“Around 26 years ago it was Prebble and Meagher, but it was Brett Prebble and John Meagher, now it’s Dan and Tommy.”