The seven year-old Reset gelding was narrowly beaten last start in the Group I
VRC Makybe Diva Stakes, but made no mistakes in this 2000 metre weight-for-age
feature claiming a long head win over ATC Australian Derby winner Criterion."Every time I get on him he fills me with confidence," said winning rider Nick Hall, who has rarely been parted from Fawkner in the last year or two.
A $70,000 purchase from the Mill Park draft at the 2009 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Fawkner runs for Nick and Lloyd Williams and is prepared by Robert Hickmott.
"It was a wonderful ride and the horse is flying," said Nick Williams.
"Dad's taken his time with this horse and we're seeing the benefit of that now.
"Hopefully we can win that elusive Cox Plate in two weeks time."
Boasting the consistent record of 10 wins and seven placings from 24 starts with prizemoney topping $2.8 million, Fawkner was bred by Steve Bennetts and is a half-brother to stakes-winning stayer Tanby (also purchased and raced by Lloyd Williams) and stakes-placed Viking Star, being one of four winners from four foals to race for the good producer Dane Belltar.
A Group III winner by Danewin, Dane Belltar was a top class filly, placing in no fewer than three Group I Oaks events, so her success at stud should come as no surprise.
Dane Belltar has a two year-old filly by Starcraft that made $650,000 at Inglis Easter earlier this year for Mill Park when purchased by David Redvers Bloodstock.
She also has a yearling filly by English Derby winner New Approach (IRE) and has already foaled this spring delivering this colt by Street Cry (IRE) pictured at Sledmere Stud.
Fawkner is the highest earner to date for his Darley based sire Reset, who was also raced by Lloyd Williams before retiring to Darley in 2004.
Already the sire of a Cox Plate winner in Pinker Pinker, Reset stands in Victoria at a fee of $16,500
