3 minute read

Brenton Avdulla was told to treat the Winter Stakes as a track gallop and that is exactly what the race turned out to be for Bandersnatch.

Michael Hawkes is unsure what level Bandersnatch can get to but he knows he has a horse high on confidence and form after the rejuvenated gelding annihilated his Winter Stakes opponents. 

The four-year-old dispelled his trainer's doubts over how he would handle the deteriorating conditions at Randwick, scooting through the heavy ground and putting 3-1/4 lengths on nearest rival True Detective. 

Order Again finished another 1-1/4 lengths further back while favourite Rubisaki was never a threat and trailed the field home. 

Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his father John and brother Wayne, said his final instruction to jockey Brenton Avdulla was to approach the race as he would a regulation gallop to help Bandersnatch get through the heavy ground. 

"The last thing I said was treat it as a track gallop," Hawkes said. 

"We're trying to place this horse right, which we think we have done this time around. 

"He really hasn't put a foot wrong since joining our stable and obviously that is his third stakes win." 

Bandersnatch has now won Listed races at his past two starts after capturing the Civic Stakes last month. 

Hawkes is unsure how far he can go but says he is a horse on the way up. 

"A progressive horse like this, you just never know," he said. 

"He gains confidence every time he steps out and he's enjoying the training we're giving him." 

Bandersnatch began smartly and kicked up on the inside to take the lead before the corner. 

Avdulla was content to keep him on the bridle and let him cruise through the ground, indicating the horse could have won by further. 

"I reckon if I'd let him go any more 'Hawkesy' would have blown up," Avdulla said. 

"He's a horse who you just have to let gallop sometimes and you can't make him go and slower or faster, he just does his own thing. 

"The other day, I let him off the chain halfway up the straight and I reckon he actually wobbled around on me, so today I just kept him comfortable and he did his thing." 

Bandersnatch gave Avdulla a double after he took out the opening event on two-year-old Sky Command. 

The final two races at Randwick were called off due to poor visibility and the worsening track.