Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
New Zealand-bred four-year-old Dawson is relishing racing in stands and he notched his fourth win in a row when he began from 10m and raced in sixth position before moving to the breeze in the middle stages, taking the lead with 450m to travel and winning by a half-length from Skylou, the 50m backmarker who finished strongly from tenth at the bell.
Dawson, the $1.60 favourite trained and driven by Gary Hall Jnr, defied a challenge by stablemate Bluto, a $11 chance who sustained a strong run from the rear to get on terms with Dawson on the home turn. Bluto fought on to finish a close third.
“Dawson is loving the conditions (in stands) and I’m not sure what his future is,” said Hall. “He has over-achieved in some regard and has gone a bit better than we thought he would.”
Dawson has raced nine times in WA for five wins and four placings. Four of those runs have been in stands for three wins and a second placing. Earlier, he won at three of his eleven starts in New Zealand and was successful at two of his five appearances in Victoria. He now has a record of 25 starts for eight wins, eight placings and $90,061 in prizemoney.