The Team Hawkes trained Grand Larceny will be looking to claim back-to-back wins when he tackles the Listed Doveton Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
The son of Zoustar takes an impressive enough race record of five wins from twelve starts into the Doveton Stakes with the latest of those wins coming in his last start over the Melbourne Cup Carnival where he saluted at Flemington on Champions Day in a World Pool Handicap over 1100m … and he did that under the steadying burden of 61kg at double figure odds ($10).
Grand Larceny’s results in his three races since resuming following a four month break from race action has reflected the progress the five-year-old has made from one run to the next.
He finished third first-up over 955m … then second, second-up over 1100m … then followed up with the 3-2-1 knockout punch with the win at Flemington.
Chances are there is more improvement to come.
With Ben Melham, who partnered Grand Larceny to victory in his last start, sticking with the Clinton McDonald trained Vestas (Melham is the regular rider of the mare) … and Blake Shinn, who rode Grand Larceny in his other two starts this preparation, out of action through injury … Beau Mertens has been handed the reins on Grand Larceny, who he will ride for the first time.
There are no double figure odds about Grand Larceny this time around with the gelding currently sharing favouritism for the race at $5 along with the Mathew Dale trained Boston Rocks who, like Grand Larceny, is a last start winner.
Perhaps significantly, that win came over the same track and distance of the Doveton Stakes.
Michael Dee, who guided Boston Rocks to his last win, again takes the ride.
