Talented mare Sylvia’s Mother has handled a step up in distance at Flemington with aplomb to claim the second straight stakes win of her preparation.
Sylvia’s Mother stepped up to 1400m for the first time in Saturday’s Group Three Frances Tressady Stakes for fillies and mares and the $2.40 favourite got the job done by a long neck to set up a potential crack at a Group One race in Sydney.
Trained by Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes, Sylvia’s Mother began this campaign with her first stakes victory in the Group Three Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 8.
Her victory on Saturday took her overall record to seven wins from 11 starts.
“We thought if she ran out a strong 1400 metres, which she did, she would win,” Wayne Hawkes said.
“She’s a pretty good mare.
“She wants to win and she tries really hard.”
Syliva’s Mother settled three horses back on the rail and jockey Dwayne Dunn had to edge his way out into clear running early in the home straight before the four-year-old mare overhauled eventual runner-up Mamzelle Tess.
Fidelia ran on for third, another half-length away.
Hawkes said the Group One Coolmore Classic for fillies and mares over 1500m at Rosehill in two weeks was certainly an option for Slyvia’s Mother’s next appearance.
“There’s those types of races,” he said.
“They won’t be easy to win and you’ve got to keep on improving. But she’s a winner.”
Dunn believes Sylvia’s Mother will handle another slight step up in distance with added fitness on her side.
