3 minute read

Plan to target Melbourne dry tracks with filly might be thwarted by rain

A Sydney-style Easter Monday forecast for Melbourne could thwart Hawkes Racing's plan to take out the $50,000 Tile Importer Plate (1200m) at Sandown on Monday with Shohei.

The father-and-sons training team of John, Wayne and Michael Hawkes sent the daughter of Mikki Isle south to avoid wet tracks after not being convinced she appreciated the Soft 5 surface during her debut second placing at Newcastle on March 17.

The Sandown track was rated a Good 4 on Sunday morning, but predictions are for up to 20mm of rain in Melbourne on Monday.

"She doesn't like the wet tracks," Hawkes said.

"But she's a nice filly. She's done everything right and we're quite happy with her, but she just didn't handle the wet track the other day."

Shohei, a three-year-old filly out of the Zabeel mare Zubara, was beaten a length when run down by Sabino at Newcastle.

She will be ridden by Jye Mcneil at Sandown where she has drawn barrier five in the field that is down to 10 after a couple of early scratchings.

TAB thinks Hawkes Racing have found a suitable option for Shohei, who at $1.95, is the shortest-priced favourite on the Easter Monday card at Sandown.

Shohei is one of a number good chances at Sandown for the Hawkes stable, who also have Foturi($6) engaged in Race 5, Marimenko ($4.80 fav) in Race 7 and Diamondsandstones ($21) in the final event.