IMPRESSIVE Messene could emerge as a lightweight Doncaster Handicap contender next year, reports Racing Network. Co-trainer John Hawkes says Messene, brilliant winner of Saturday’s December Handicap (1550 m) at Canterbury, will spelled with the Doncaster an autumn consideration.
“You hope he could get into the Doncaster with a light weight,” Hawkes says. “He might measure up to something like that in the autumn if everything went right and he might get a bit further – he might run a mile and a quarter (sic 2000 metres). I don’t know if he’s a weight-for-age horse, but we will just bob along with him. We’ll just take it one step at a time with him.”
Messene, a son of Lonhro and winner of seven of his 10 starts, may continue to race through the summer, but Hawkes is mindful of giving the horse a shot at some of the better Sydney carnival races.
He says the five-year-old will be given the chance to “win one of the big ones”.
In other news, Hawkesis waiting to see how Invisible, winner of the TAB IPAD App Plate at Canterbury, came through the race before confirming a Magic Millions 2YO Classic start.
“We’re not rushing to get there. If he does or doesn’t, I’m not too fussed,” Hawkes says. “We will give him all week. He will tell us, we’re not going to rush him up there just for the sake of it. It was a good day for everyone, just great for the family. It was excellent."