Wayne Hawkes is hopeful a return to the short course at Moonee Valley will bring out an improved showing from three-year-old Semillion.
The Hawkes Racing-trained sprinter was successful on debut at Moonee Valley on soft ground and may have similar ground on Saturday when he contests the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m).
It will be Semillion’s first shot at weight-for-age and taking on older sprinters, a fact not lost on Hawkes, but at the same time he believes the sprinter is up to the task.
Semillion is coming off a first-up last in the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 13, a run that Hawkes put down to the three-year-old’s coltish behaviour.
“I wouldn’t say disappointed, but he’s a colt and they can do that to you,” Hawkes said.
Semillions two wins from five starts have come on affected ground, although the colt did run second on a good track in a Blue Diamond Prelude before finishing fifth in the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.
Hawkes said he was expecting Moonee Valley to be suiting on-pacers on Saturday with the rail back in the true position.
“You would think it will be a leaders track and as soon as you say that everything will go ‘lickety-split’ and something sitting back will win,” Hawkes said.
“Track conditions won’t bother him. He won his first start here on a soft track and he won the first race at the Championships in Sydney on a bottomless 20, so he goes good in the wet.
“Most of the Shalaa’s like wet tracks, so being wet won’t worry us.”
Hawkes said Semillion’s performance will determine whether the Group 1 Moir Stakes over Saturday’s course and distance could be on the agenda at the end of the month.
“There are no plans,” Hawkes said.
“It’s a good race for him, 1000 metres at weight-for-age, although he’s not as well off being a two-year-old Group winner, but that won’t stop him if he’s good enough.”
